Fone Bone
Matt Zimmer
Cosmos: Possible Worlds "Ladder To The Stars"
That was totally cheesy. And I loved every inch of it.
The music and visual effects in this franchise continue to astound me. It makes whatever cheesy thing is happening magical instead.
Lot of interesting things to learn here.
My biggest takeaways were learning that as a species of hunter / gatherers, human beings used to be able to get along and live in peace with each other just fine. Even after the agricultural revolution, humans remained so and the first generations of that society were egalitarian. Neil DeGrasse Tyson is smart to point that out because it tells us something that we had been led to believe the opposite about: The violence and darkness we see in the world was not necessarily a part of human nature this entire time. It probably wasn't even necessary had our societies made better choices. People used to live together as equals with no problems, before and after they plowed the land and built homes for themselves. It's the war and the fighting that is unnatural and the learned behavior. It's not an intrinsic facet to our species. I did not know that, and I feel better for knowing that. One of the selling points of this show is that I usually feel better about the world than I did before I saw a given episode because I learn positive things about the world I didn't know. And that's awesome.
The idea of Spinoza's controversial beliefs and writing, and his subsequent shunning turns the show overtly political in describing the fact that this was before the American values of democracy and freedom of ideas were fully established. It's a good way to say that the current intolerance and hatred we are suffering through is similar to what people had to suffer in the Age of Enlightenment. It also suggests we might come out of it okay.
We need to treat bees better. The return to the Hall of Extinction did not make me happy and Tyson did not look happy revisiting it either, particularly since between the show's brief hiatus and now, we have learned a great deal about our place in it in the meantime. The show isn't always entirely good news.
Very cool idea for the relay station to Alpha Centauri. I also learn neat stuff on this show.
They shortened the long theme song a bit. I prefer the longer one.
Whatever the problems Tyson was having in his personal life that caused the show to be postponed, I AM glad it's back. ****1/2.
Cosmos: Possible Worlds "Shadows Of Forgotten Ancestors"
I was not feeling this at all. And I think my problem is best exemplified by Tyson's admiring telling of the story of Ashoka. Here's an opinion: Ashoka sucked. Period. There are plenty of heroes throughout history who performed their good deeds without committing mass torture and genocide and killing their entire families first. I don't find the story of Ashoka about wisdom gained and redemption earned. I find it about justice escaped. There are some things that are simply should NOT be allowed to stand. Ashoka's rule after all of the evil things he did was one of them.
There were a lot of provocative images and notions in the episode including the idea that the kind of "us versus them" mentality leads to demagogues and supremacy. It's basically failed pattern recognition.
However, Tyson said there really wasn't a single thing humans did that you couldn't find in the animal kingdom. I thought of several, and that fact that he didn't mention them means there probably aren't any animals who can do these things. But only humans wear clothing, drive motorized vehicles, harness electricity, mass produce constructed products and inventions, and create fire. And that's just off the top of my head. I'm not saying human are special among Earth species. But a LOT of single Earth species have a talent only they possess, and that doesn't detract from how cool the talent is.
Speaking of which, the biggest laugh of the episode was Tyson's line about male fireflies' "glow-blocking". "Man, that's cold." Frankly, Neil, as far as sinister behavior goes, it's not ever going to top the first part of Ashoka's reign. But point taken, and funny one-liner appreciated. Carl Sagan never really did those.
Still, not my favorite episode. **1/2.
Cosmos: Possible Worlds "Lost City Of Life"
That Cosmic Calendar really makes it easier to keep things straight on this show.
I loved the story of how Goldschmidt constantly outwitted the Nazis in WWII. Riveting.
The stuff inside the water filled Saturn moon was wondrous.
I love that this show often gets Patrick Stewart to do voice work as some of the cartoon characters.
Great episode. ****1/2.
Cosmos: Possible Worlds "Vavilov"
That was amazing. I learned so much about history. Stalin and Lisenko were truly bad guys. It says how dull-witted Stalin actually was when Hitler was smarter than him about seeing the value of the seed bank. I never even heard of the seed bank before and I now learned that it probably saved my life. Amazing.
The different animation styles were great but the stop-motion sequences in Russia were truly stunning.
Seth MacFarlane's voice cameo as the Russian film-reel announcer was both funny and vaguely offensive.
I loved every second of this. *****.
Cosmos: Possible Worlds "The Cosmic Connectome"
That gave me a lot to think about.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson expressed an interesting opinion that I don't agree with. He mentioned that as bad as bigotry was in the past, since it was systemic throughout past society, misguided people like Broca perhaps should be forgiven for it. I don't agree with that, but he raised an interesting argument: Maybe a hundred years from now there will be beliefs that I currently have that are considered unforgivable by a future, more enlightened society. I think that's interesting to think about, and I can think of a couple of bad things society currently engages in that get little pushback (but that should). The first is killing animals. I expect that within fifty years science we'll be able to come up with alternate food sources that give the same great taste that meat does artificially. I think the Impossible Whopper is just the beginning. Therefore, I expect in a couple of generations people will question my barbarism of eating meat now. I also expect that the fact that segments of our society mercilessly mock and make fun of stupid people will also be frowned upon centuries from now (if those stupid people don't wind up getting us all killed before then). But those future evolved societies can go to Hell for thinking less of me for that because they probably won't have to live with them.
But do you notice the similarity both of those things have in common? There are people alive NOW, against, and in the case of killing animals, strongly, those practices. Just like even when racism was endemic in society, there were people who stood against it. Very few, but it's not like they didn't exist. What that tells me is that people back then don't get a free pass. Right is right and wrong is wrong no matter when it happens. Similarly, if a future society feels superior enough to look down on me for eating meat or making fun of dumb people, that's okay, because on some level I know I shouldn't be doing those things. Also, Tyson neglects to mention that those "unforgivable" bigotries are very much currently acceptable to a LARGE segment of society in 2020. I would argue that in the last four years they have actually come back in fashion. The reason I don't give past societies a pass on systemic racism is because systemic racist still very much exists, and is in fact entrenched. Until then my opinion of past societies will never be softened by it supposedly being a sign of the times. It's a sign of ALL times, including ours. It's still wrong and unforgivable.
I was fascinated by the story of the goofy scientist who spent his life searching for psychic powers and wound up creating the E.E.G. instead. It's amazing he committed suicide due to feelings of failure and inadequacy when he created that wonder that is still in use today.
I thought the visual effects as we traveled inside the grain of sand were quite marvelous. Tyson makes a compelling case that if the Universe runs under steady physics laws it can potentially be knowable. I personally find that to be a bit of wishful thinking, and possibly even human hubris, but the math he's using actually checks out there. I just don't believe the Universe's laws are purposeful as he thinks they are. That feeling of a muddled, chaotic Universe he described is how I've felt every morning since I've woken up for the past four years in this country. Tyson's positive view of our knowing the Universe might not be hubris or narcissism. It might simply be optimism. Of which I do not share.
Fascinating stuff that made me question my prejudices, which is always healthy. ****.
That was totally cheesy. And I loved every inch of it.
The music and visual effects in this franchise continue to astound me. It makes whatever cheesy thing is happening magical instead.
Lot of interesting things to learn here.
My biggest takeaways were learning that as a species of hunter / gatherers, human beings used to be able to get along and live in peace with each other just fine. Even after the agricultural revolution, humans remained so and the first generations of that society were egalitarian. Neil DeGrasse Tyson is smart to point that out because it tells us something that we had been led to believe the opposite about: The violence and darkness we see in the world was not necessarily a part of human nature this entire time. It probably wasn't even necessary had our societies made better choices. People used to live together as equals with no problems, before and after they plowed the land and built homes for themselves. It's the war and the fighting that is unnatural and the learned behavior. It's not an intrinsic facet to our species. I did not know that, and I feel better for knowing that. One of the selling points of this show is that I usually feel better about the world than I did before I saw a given episode because I learn positive things about the world I didn't know. And that's awesome.
The idea of Spinoza's controversial beliefs and writing, and his subsequent shunning turns the show overtly political in describing the fact that this was before the American values of democracy and freedom of ideas were fully established. It's a good way to say that the current intolerance and hatred we are suffering through is similar to what people had to suffer in the Age of Enlightenment. It also suggests we might come out of it okay.
We need to treat bees better. The return to the Hall of Extinction did not make me happy and Tyson did not look happy revisiting it either, particularly since between the show's brief hiatus and now, we have learned a great deal about our place in it in the meantime. The show isn't always entirely good news.
Very cool idea for the relay station to Alpha Centauri. I also learn neat stuff on this show.
They shortened the long theme song a bit. I prefer the longer one.
Whatever the problems Tyson was having in his personal life that caused the show to be postponed, I AM glad it's back. ****1/2.
Cosmos: Possible Worlds "Shadows Of Forgotten Ancestors"
I was not feeling this at all. And I think my problem is best exemplified by Tyson's admiring telling of the story of Ashoka. Here's an opinion: Ashoka sucked. Period. There are plenty of heroes throughout history who performed their good deeds without committing mass torture and genocide and killing their entire families first. I don't find the story of Ashoka about wisdom gained and redemption earned. I find it about justice escaped. There are some things that are simply should NOT be allowed to stand. Ashoka's rule after all of the evil things he did was one of them.
There were a lot of provocative images and notions in the episode including the idea that the kind of "us versus them" mentality leads to demagogues and supremacy. It's basically failed pattern recognition.
However, Tyson said there really wasn't a single thing humans did that you couldn't find in the animal kingdom. I thought of several, and that fact that he didn't mention them means there probably aren't any animals who can do these things. But only humans wear clothing, drive motorized vehicles, harness electricity, mass produce constructed products and inventions, and create fire. And that's just off the top of my head. I'm not saying human are special among Earth species. But a LOT of single Earth species have a talent only they possess, and that doesn't detract from how cool the talent is.
Speaking of which, the biggest laugh of the episode was Tyson's line about male fireflies' "glow-blocking". "Man, that's cold." Frankly, Neil, as far as sinister behavior goes, it's not ever going to top the first part of Ashoka's reign. But point taken, and funny one-liner appreciated. Carl Sagan never really did those.
Still, not my favorite episode. **1/2.
Cosmos: Possible Worlds "Lost City Of Life"
That Cosmic Calendar really makes it easier to keep things straight on this show.
I loved the story of how Goldschmidt constantly outwitted the Nazis in WWII. Riveting.
The stuff inside the water filled Saturn moon was wondrous.
I love that this show often gets Patrick Stewart to do voice work as some of the cartoon characters.
Great episode. ****1/2.
Cosmos: Possible Worlds "Vavilov"
That was amazing. I learned so much about history. Stalin and Lisenko were truly bad guys. It says how dull-witted Stalin actually was when Hitler was smarter than him about seeing the value of the seed bank. I never even heard of the seed bank before and I now learned that it probably saved my life. Amazing.
The different animation styles were great but the stop-motion sequences in Russia were truly stunning.
Seth MacFarlane's voice cameo as the Russian film-reel announcer was both funny and vaguely offensive.
I loved every second of this. *****.
Cosmos: Possible Worlds "The Cosmic Connectome"
That gave me a lot to think about.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson expressed an interesting opinion that I don't agree with. He mentioned that as bad as bigotry was in the past, since it was systemic throughout past society, misguided people like Broca perhaps should be forgiven for it. I don't agree with that, but he raised an interesting argument: Maybe a hundred years from now there will be beliefs that I currently have that are considered unforgivable by a future, more enlightened society. I think that's interesting to think about, and I can think of a couple of bad things society currently engages in that get little pushback (but that should). The first is killing animals. I expect that within fifty years science we'll be able to come up with alternate food sources that give the same great taste that meat does artificially. I think the Impossible Whopper is just the beginning. Therefore, I expect in a couple of generations people will question my barbarism of eating meat now. I also expect that the fact that segments of our society mercilessly mock and make fun of stupid people will also be frowned upon centuries from now (if those stupid people don't wind up getting us all killed before then). But those future evolved societies can go to Hell for thinking less of me for that because they probably won't have to live with them.
But do you notice the similarity both of those things have in common? There are people alive NOW, against, and in the case of killing animals, strongly, those practices. Just like even when racism was endemic in society, there were people who stood against it. Very few, but it's not like they didn't exist. What that tells me is that people back then don't get a free pass. Right is right and wrong is wrong no matter when it happens. Similarly, if a future society feels superior enough to look down on me for eating meat or making fun of dumb people, that's okay, because on some level I know I shouldn't be doing those things. Also, Tyson neglects to mention that those "unforgivable" bigotries are very much currently acceptable to a LARGE segment of society in 2020. I would argue that in the last four years they have actually come back in fashion. The reason I don't give past societies a pass on systemic racism is because systemic racist still very much exists, and is in fact entrenched. Until then my opinion of past societies will never be softened by it supposedly being a sign of the times. It's a sign of ALL times, including ours. It's still wrong and unforgivable.
I was fascinated by the story of the goofy scientist who spent his life searching for psychic powers and wound up creating the E.E.G. instead. It's amazing he committed suicide due to feelings of failure and inadequacy when he created that wonder that is still in use today.
I thought the visual effects as we traveled inside the grain of sand were quite marvelous. Tyson makes a compelling case that if the Universe runs under steady physics laws it can potentially be knowable. I personally find that to be a bit of wishful thinking, and possibly even human hubris, but the math he's using actually checks out there. I just don't believe the Universe's laws are purposeful as he thinks they are. That feeling of a muddled, chaotic Universe he described is how I've felt every morning since I've woken up for the past four years in this country. Tyson's positive view of our knowing the Universe might not be hubris or narcissism. It might simply be optimism. Of which I do not share.
Fascinating stuff that made me question my prejudices, which is always healthy. ****.
