RIP Carl Sagan - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

warrrreagl · 12-20-2006, 06:06 AM

Today, December 20, is the 10th anniversary of Carl Sagan's death. Cornell University is attempting a massive worldwide blog for the occasion, and here is the linky.

What are your thoughts, memories, and impressions of Carl Sagan? My big brother turned me on to him in 1977 when I was in high school. At the time, I was reading all kinds of mystical shit and Sagan's voice was exactly what I needed to help me balance and sift what was going into my head at the time. We were driving home from the dentist and talking about alien visitors and I was babbling ridiculously about how humans were probably aliens to this planet because we didn't seem to match anything else found on earth. My brother asked me if I'd ever heard of Carl Sagan or Dragons of Eden and my life was forever changed after that. I have no idea how many times I read that book (followed closely by Broca's Brain), and it would definitely set the stage for my eventual career in behavioral science and my mistrust of psuedo-science.

When the Cosmos series came on PBS, I tape recorded all 13 episodes and I still use things from those shows in my teachings. I finally got a chance to see him in person in Tuskegee, Alabama in the early 80's when he gave a lecture at Tuskegee Institute. I remember being a little disappointed when he went off on the Nuclear Winter tangent in the mid-80's, but (as usual) most of his thoughts on that subject have proven correct.

I never read Contact, but I was highly impressed by the movie. I miss his insight and I always felt badly that he never got to see all the latest Mars missions.

Farewell, old friend, and thank you for my appreciation of scientific method and its applications in my career.

BadNick · 12-20-2006, 06:32 AM

I have a lot of respect for him as a forward thinking scientist and for his efforts and success at educating the general public about a lot of interesting scientific concepts. And of course when I think of him his voice will always echo in my brain. I only ever read his Broca's Brain but got more familiar with his ideas thru television, the Cosmos series, and other media about him. His relatively premature death made me wonder what other contributions he could have made to humanity if he had lived longer.

CandleInTheDark · 12-20-2006, 08:40 AM

He was definitely a big influence on me in high school when I read The Demon-haunted world: Science as a candle in the dark. Inspiration for my user name too!

Now I am a bit more tempered from my militant atheist/reasonist/Bright high school days, but his search for truth and education of others is still inspiring.

Ace_O_Spades · 12-20-2006, 10:07 AM

I've read/watched Cosmos, Dragons of Eden, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, and Demon Haunted World... They quite frankly changed my life.

I owe much of my current ideology and personality to the writings of Carl Sagan... I recommend him and his writings to everyone I talk to. Easy to follow and accessible in a way that few writers achieve.

RIP Carl... He would have loved to be here for the Cassini/Huygens mission to Saturn.

amonkie · 12-20-2006, 05:25 PM

I second the thought of Sagan on the missions ...

I love how his genuine curiousity for the world around is is what drove him - not his reputation. His genius and ability to put his thoughts into words made science a LOT more accessible to the general public, Space in particular.

lagoonguy · 12-20-2006, 05:28 PM

yes, The Demon Haunted World is really good stuff. Thanks Carl.

flstf · 12-21-2006, 08:13 AM

I think many of us can give "Billions and Billions" of thanks to Carl Sagan, especially for his "Cosmos" series on PBS. That series is still one of my favorites even to this day.

WeAreNotAlone · 01-05-2007, 02:47 PM

In Memorian

http://www.hatterkepek.hu/picdownloa...-sagan-003.jpg

http://www.hatterkepek.hu/picdownloa...-sagan-002.jpg

warrrreagl · 01-06-2007, 04:30 AM

For Christmas, Grancey got me the entire Cosmos series on DVD!!!!!!!!!

12-20-2006, 06:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
warrrreagl pinche vato Location: backwater, Third World, land of cotton	RIP Carl Sagan Today, December 20, is the 10th anniversary of Carl Sagan's death. Cornell University is attempting a massive worldwide blog for the occasion, and here is the linky. What are your thoughts, memories, and impressions of Carl Sagan? My big brother turned me on to him in 1977 when I was in high school. At the time, I was reading all kinds of mystical shit and Sagan's voice was exactly what I needed to help me balance and sift what was going into my head at the time. We were driving home from the dentist and talking about alien visitors and I was babbling ridiculously about how humans were probably aliens to this planet because we didn't seem to match anything else found on earth. My brother asked me if I'd ever heard of Carl Sagan or Dragons of Eden and my life was forever changed after that. I have no idea how many times I read that book (followed closely by Broca's Brain), and it would definitely set the stage for my eventual career in behavioral science and my mistrust of psuedo-science. When the Cosmos series came on PBS, I tape recorded all 13 episodes and I still use things from those shows in my teachings. I finally got a chance to see him in person in Tuskegee, Alabama in the early 80's when he gave a lecture at Tuskegee Institute. I remember being a little disappointed when he went off on the Nuclear Winter tangent in the mid-80's, but (as usual) most of his thoughts on that subject have proven correct. I never read Contact, but I was highly impressed by the movie. I miss his insight and I always felt badly that he never got to see all the latest Mars missions. Farewell, old friend, and thank you for my appreciation of scientific method and its applications in my career. __________________ Living is easy with eyes closed. Last edited by warrrreagl; 12-20-2006 at 07:22 AM..

12-20-2006, 08:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
CandleInTheDark Addict Location: Where the music's loudest	He was definitely a big influence on me in high school when I read The Demon-haunted world: Science as a candle in the dark. Inspiration for my user name too! Now I am a bit more tempered from my militant atheist/reasonist/Bright high school days, but his search for truth and education of others is still inspiring. __________________ Where there is doubt there is freedom.

12-20-2006, 10:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ace_O_Spades The Death Card Location: EH!?!?	I've read/watched Cosmos, Dragons of Eden, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, and Demon Haunted World... They quite frankly changed my life. I owe much of my current ideology and personality to the writings of Carl Sagan... I recommend him and his writings to everyone I talk to. Easy to follow and accessible in a way that few writers achieve. RIP Carl... He would have loved to be here for the Cassini/Huygens mission to Saturn. __________________ Feh.

12-20-2006, 05:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	I second the thought of Sagan on the missions ... I love how his genuine curiousity for the world around is is what drove him - not his reputation. His genius and ability to put his thoughts into words made science a LOT more accessible to the general public, Space in particular. __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

01-05-2007, 02:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
WeAreNotAlone Upright	For Carl Sagan In Memorian http://www.hatterkepek.hu/picdownloa...-sagan-003.jpg http://www.hatterkepek.hu/picdownloa...-sagan-002.jpg

12-20-2006, 06:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	I have a lot of respect for him as a forward thinking scientist and for his efforts and success at educating the general public about a lot of interesting scientific concepts. And of course when I think of him his voice will always echo in my brain. I only ever read his Broca's Brain but got more familiar with his ideas thru television, the Cosmos series, and other media about him. His relatively premature death made me wonder what other contributions he could have made to humanity if he had lived longer.

12-20-2006, 05:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
lagoonguy Crazy Location: Atlanta	yes, The Demon Haunted World is really good stuff. Thanks Carl.

12-21-2006, 08:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
flstf Easy Rider Location: Moscow on the Ohio	I think many of us can give "Billions and Billions" of thanks to Carl Sagan, especially for his "Cosmos" series on PBS. That series is still one of my favorites even to this day.

01-06-2007, 04:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
warrrreagl pinche vato Location: backwater, Third World, land of cotton	For Christmas, Grancey got me the entire Cosmos series on DVD!!!!!!!!! __________________ Living is easy with eyes closed.