Neil deGrasse Tyson: Ego and our cosmic perspective.

I think that Professor Tyson really nails it here.

Ego is really the biggest obstacle to recognizing scientific truth about our origin and the reality of our place in the cosmos.

After all if you believe that everything around you was created simply for your benefit, and that you yourself were created in God's image, why would you want to believe otherwise?

I'm sure you have seen Fundamentalists who get EXTREMELY agitated at the idea that man evolved from a monkey. And correcting them by telling them that man did not evolve directly from the modern chimpanzee but rather that they both share a common ancestor, and in fact also share a common ancestor that once dwelled in the oceans, only agitates them further.

In truth it is a matter of perspective. I once had a friend tell me, back when I used to feel obligated to challenge people's faith on daily basis, that the problem was I was trying to offer them truth in exchange for eternal life. Which in fact was like trying to feed a starving man a breadcrumb when they just knew there was an all you can eat buffet awaiting them over the horizon.

To me the idea of being part of this universe and having the ability to bask in its magnificence while exulting in our increased understanding of it, makes me feel blessed. Not by a God, but simply due to my existence, and the intellect to appreciate it.

I think that if we are going to make progress with our understanding we have to stop being so damn selfish, and recognize that the beauty of our existence is in its connection to everything else, NOT in our toddler like expectation that everything we experience was given to us for being special and unique.

Thoughts?

P.S. By the speaking of Professor Tyson you have to see this awesome new trailer for his upcoming Cosmos series.  Prepare for awesomeness.

National Enquirer claims Bristol Palin finally wants to do something important with her life. Nah, just kidding, she wants to cut hair for a living. Update!

"My dream is to use my cosmetology skills make EVERYBODY just as gorgeous as I am!"

Interesting information courtesy of Celebdirtylaundry:

The National Enquirer print edition reports: “Bristol wants to go to cosmetology school. She plans to find a school near her home in Arizona so she can get away from the Alaskan winter. After graduating next year, she wants to look for jobs in the movie industry. Bristol’s realizing her bout of fame and big-money offers in Hollywood is dwindling since mother isn’t in the spotlight as much, so she needs a backup plan.” 

Is it just me, or is anybody else hearing Frankie Avalon's "Beauty School Drop Out" playing in their heads right now?

Beauty school dropout, 

No graduation day for you. 

Beauty school dropout, 

Missed your midterms and flunked shampoo! 

Well at least you could have taken time, to wash and clean your clothes up, 

After spending all that dough to have the doctor fix your nose up! 

Baby get moving (Baby get movin), 

Why keep your feeble hopes alive? 

What are you proving (What are you provin)? 

You've got the dream but not the drive. 

If you go for your diploma, you could join a steno pool. 

Turn in your teasin comb and go back to high school! 

Beauty school dropout (Beauty school dropout), 

Hanging around the corner store. 

Beauty school dropout (Beauty school dropout), 

It's about time you knew the score. 

Well they couldn't teach you anything, 

You think you're such a looker, 

But no customer would go to you unless she was a hooker! 

Baby don't sweat it (Don't sweat it), 

You're not cut out to hold a job. 

Better forget it (Forget it), 

Who wants their hair done by a slob? 

So if this is true, and I don't have any independent confirmation yet, then that must mean that Bristol's reality show is dead in the water. Color me surprised.

Well I guess if Bristol cannot BE one of the rich and famous, she can at least wash the hair of the rich and famous. You know, if they came up to Wasilla, Alaska that is.

Hey, I wonder if this means she will start working at the Beehive Beauty Shop? Then she could wax people's taint, AND get to be on television!

That is of course if the rumors of Big Hair Alaska's demise turn out to be false don'tcha know.

You know the problem with hitching your future to the meteoric rise of a crazy person, which half of the planet already despises, is that when they fizzle out and slam back into the earth, they leave nothing but devastation and a giant crater to remember them by.  And everything that was sucked along in their wake is now so damaged that it is virtually unrecognizable.

Sadly for Bristol, and of course little Tripp, she is exhibit "A."

Update: Here is the actual NE article. It looks like Bristol might be a little more ambitious than we previously believed:

BRISTOL PALIN’s Hollywood dreams are fading but she’s determined to make it big on the other side of the camera — as a Hollywood hairdresser. 

Sources say the 21-year-old former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant plans to attend cosmetology school so she can do hair and makeup on movie sets! 

And as for her reality show with the Massey's?

Bristol recently filmed a reality show with former Disney stars KYLE and CHRISTOPHER MASSEY for the BIO channel, but sources say it may be scrapped. She realized quickly she needed to explore other options. 

“Her biggest priority is getting a job that is flexible, where she can make plenty of money but not be too tied down since she’s a single mother,” added the source. “Cosmetology work is perfect because she’ll have some control over her schedule.”

There is a fledgling film industry sprouting up here, but it is having some serious growing pains right now (My daughter is currently unemployed after months of back to back work available.). But even if it takes off one has to wonder if ANY reputable movie company would hire Bristol Palin to do hair and makeup on their performers?

Unless of course she is planning to move to Hollywood full time, but then that second question still applies.