Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Professor Neil deGrasse Tyson on why some people fear a cosmic perspective, while others embrace it.

"I assert that if you are depressed after learning, and being exposed. to the cosmic perspective you started your day with a unjustifiably large ego."

I love that!

Religious people often attempt to portray themselves as humble servants of God, but I contend that such a thing is virtually impossible if you actually believe the planet and the universe were created just for you.

10 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:29 AM

    So, is this religion/anti-religion Tuesday?

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    1. Anonymous7:42 AM

      crickets... ... ... ...

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  2. Anonymous8:01 AM

    Read 'em and weep Sarah.

    Michael Medved Confronts Palin on Impeachment: How Is This ‘Vaguely Possible?’

    Palin touted, “As more Americans open their eyes to this lawless presidency… the more the will of the people will be exercised and will be made manifest by pressure put on the Democrats.”

    Medved continued to be skeptical, noting that if the Republicans “grab the national agenda” with impeachment and lose, “that would be a profound negative for the conservative movement.” Palin disagreed, and asserted there are plenty of Democrats “who are on our side on this.”

    http://www.mediaite.com/online/michael-medved-confronts-palin-on-impeachment-how-is-this-vaguely-possible/

    Meghan McCain Disses Sarah Palin’s New 'Video Channel'

    “When I looked at her site, though, I don’t know how this is different than a blog with video posts. It didn’t look like a video channel,” McCain said on her Pivot show TakePart Live. She compared the Sarah Palin Channel to another relatively recent startup. “Glenn Beck has TheBlaze which is an actual channel you can turn to on television.”

    http://www.mediaite.com/tv/meghan-mccain-disses-sarah-palins-new-video-channel/

    McCain: 'There Just Aren't The Votes There' To Impeach Obama

    "We're not gonna impeach the president of the United States. There just aren't the votes there even if we believed that it was warranted," McCain told host Mike Broomhead on Phoenix radio station KFYI.

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/john-mccain-there-arent-enough-votes-for-impeachment

    Top House Dem: GOP's Impeachment Talk Is Helping Us



    The chairman of House Democrats campaign arm said Republican talk of impeaching President Barack Obama is actually helping to mobilize the Democratic base and move "persuadable voters" toward them in the 2014 election.

    "I think that the Republican strategy of lawsuits, approaching impeachment, is fundamentally misfiring,” Israel said Tuesday according to The Hill.

    "Look, I understand their strategy is intended to gin up their base, but it’s having the unintended consequence of moving our base in a midterm election and also moving persuadable voters, swing voters to us in a midterm election," Israel continued.

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/steve-israel-republicans-impeach-obama-democrats-2014

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    1. Anonymous8:17 AM

      ‘The most boring reality show ever’: Cenk Uygur mocks Sarah Palin’s ‘news’ channel

      “The Internet would like to thank you,” Uygur said to the former governor of Alaska. “Not for setting this enterprise up, but for allowing us to get a good laugh at your expense.”

      While Palin describes the channel as a way for her to discuss issues that won’t be addressed by lawmakers or the media, Uygur pointed out that her own history undermines her alleged goal.

      “She’s setting this up to fight against ‘the powers that be,’” Uygur said. “She was a governor of a state. She was a vice-presidential candidate for one of the two major parties in this country. She’s had multi-million dollar contracts on TV. She’s like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna give it to you without the media filter.’ The media filter that’s paid you millions of dollars.”

      http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/28/the-most-boring-reality-show-ever-cenk-uygur-mocks-sarah-palins-news-channel/

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  3. Anonymous8:11 AM

    I just love Mr. Tyson's perspective on things. He makes everything so concise and easily understandable and accessible to millions. I was GLUED to Cosmos. What's not to find amazing and fascinating?

    On another note, poor Mr. Boner is having a hard time with the monster he created with his lawsuit, and with Skank fanning the flames on things, it's getting really uncomfortable for the GOP:

    House Speaker John Boehner torched Democrats on Tuesday over talk of impeaching President Barack Obama, insisting that Republicans have no such plans and that Democrats are using the issue to gin up their base.

    "Listen, this whole talk about impeachment is coming from the president's own staff, and coming from Democrats on Capitol Hill. Why? Because they're trying to rally their people to give money and to show up in this year's election," the Ohio Republican told reporters, in response to a question.

    "We have no plans to impeach the president. We have no future plans," a visibly frustrated Boehner said. "Listen, it's all a scam started by Democrats at the White House."

    LOL, trying to blame the Dems when you've got a whole wing of the conservative mouthpieces demanding impeachment, and Johnny can't keep them quiet. Sarah you cost Senate seats before, and it looks like you'll do it again! 'I am not a Witch', remember?

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  4. fromthediagonal8:54 AM

    I am dismayed at how this comment section devolved into another SP thread.
    There are themes beyond that insufferable woman and her likeminded followers that demand attention, dammit!

    I just want to thank Dr. Tyson for his science based philosophy. In the course of a long and eventful life, my thoughts have mirrored his for decades, because in the Grand Scheme of the Universe, I am a nothing and yet I DO exist (paraphrasing Stephen Crane).

    For much of recorded history humans' hubris birthed of ignorance has inflicted inhuman cruelty to those who do not "believe" in the arrogance of supremacy espoused by religious fanatics of all stripes.

    Please listen to the above video!

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  5. Ailsa9:05 AM

    http://www.openculture.com/2013/04/neil_degrasse_tyson_explains_why_hes_uncomfortable_being_labeled_an_atheist.html

    Tyson does not like being "claimed" by atheists. He claims he is an agnostic.

    I may add, if he and others knew some philosophy (he is adamantly against philosophy) it would be understood that the anthropocentric stance he rejects (as I do) began with Plato. In fact, it was Protagoras (born 490 BC) who said: "Man is the measure of all things."

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  6. Anonymous11:00 AM

    If Sarah thinks her channel is educational and a public service, she could use PBS...... (Palin Bull-Shitting)

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  7. Anonymous2:19 PM

    Tyson and Bill Maher were so cute to watch on Bill Maher's cable show this past Friday. They made me laugh out loud - so damned cute and funny!

    Bill's show is up for an Emmy again!! Yea!

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  8. Anita Winecooler6:15 PM

    First of all, Professor Tyson, imho, not only knows his stuff, but his passion always shines through. The quote you chose may seem simple at first read, but it's undeniably true.
    Whenever I see him or hear him speak, he reminds me of a high school science teacher my son had. I was auditing the class and taking notes. He walked into the room, took roll, then instructed the kids to meet him on the football field. When they arrived, there were twenty eight telescopes, "sky maps", and certain objects that were visible at two pm in broad daylight, along with different filters. There's no better classroom than that! The kids (and adults) were beyond astonished, the teacher read off the locations and names and everyone who got them raised their hands.
    The next week, I took a sick day to join them at the Franklin Institute. It's the most empowering yet humbling experiences to reach for the stars and find yourself while doing it.

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