Saturday, January 18, 2014

Neil DeGrasse Tyson: I Love That Man

I don't actually know that man, but I have a lot of love in my heart, and am willing to share it, from afar, until I feel it's been misplaced. So, I currently love Neil, who gave an interview that I also love.

This is the backbone of Science Fiction. This is why I write. I may not be able to instill the sense of wonder in others that this sort of thing evokes in me. But that is the reason I try.

The first SF book I read that wasn't Star Trek related, as an adult, was Ring, by Stephen Baxter. It took a real scientific mystery (discussed in the video below) and made it the central item the novel's heroes had to uncover if they hope to save the world from disaster.

I tip my hat to Neil. It's a long interview, so grab a bag of chips, sit back, an enjoy.

6 comments:

  1. Hmm... Okay, now I will have to try to remember to listen to this Monday morning while making coffee-like stuff.

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    1. I hope you do. I really enjoyed this interview.

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  2. An explosion of Rusty posts!

    I am not entirely sold on Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and here is why: When Felix Whoever made his leap from space, an amazing technological feat and also a very courageous thing, Neil posted something on Twitter that attempted to minimize it, pointing out that if the Earth was basketball-sized, Felix had jumped a centimeter or something. It was SO stupid and petty -- first, it made him seem jealous, which is never a good quality, and second, it was an attack on someone doing something amazing. Rather than attempt to explain the science of the feat or simply say "Wow," Neil took the moment to attempt to minimize a daredevilesque feat, and I never approve of anything that discourages learning or exploration.

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    1. Since I do read his books, listen to all his podcasts, all his youtube videos, all of his science specials on TV, and have read at least a couple of his books, AND follow him on twitter, I think it's fair to say that we're pretty much best friends.

      And I can tell you that you really must not like him at all, because he makes those sorts of 'scale of the universe' types of observations all the time. And he normally does so with whatever topical news thing is going on at the time.

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    2. And I mentioned reading his books more than once, didn't I? Whatever, don't judge me.

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  3. Neil is one of my favorite people to listen to! I also own several of his books. He gets me so excited about science (not that I need a whole lot of help in that area), and I hope my writing may one day instill a sense of wonder the way he does for me.

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