Cosmos Rebooted

[MachineGhost]

Back in the anarchronistic age of pre-cable TV and just several OTA network channels in the late 70's, Cosmos hosted by Carl Sagan inspired and transformed an entire generation; he literally gave them the stars.  Now, it's been rebooted for a new generation and I encourage everyone to check it out and marvel at the awe and mystery of the universe, all in immersive HD.  Unlike the first series which was shown on PBS, it is currently being shown on FOX including via their FOXNOW app.

http://www.cosmosontv.com/

[Mountaineer]

Back in the anarchronistic age of pre-cable TV and just several OTA network channels in the late 70's, Cosmos hosted by Carl Sagan inspired and transformed an entire generation; he literally gave them the stars.  Now, it's been rebooted for a new generation and I encourage everyone to check it out and marvel at the awe and mystery of the universe, all in immersive HD.  Unlike the first series which was shown on PBS, it is currently being shown on FOX including via their FOXNOW app.

http://www.cosmosontv.com/

MG,
Don't you realize we are living inside a giant bubble with images of stars on the inside of the outer layer (or, are we just in the matrix)?  Sheesh, I guess you think men really landed on the moon instead of walking on the Hollywood stage-set.  FOX is just continuing the myth.  Get real! 

... Mountaineer

[dualstow]

I've been enjoying the Cosmos reboot even though a lot of friends compare it too closely with the original. Neil deGrasse Tyson is a great host.

You can catch a lot of reruns, maybe 4 of them, on Mondays on the Nat'l Geo channel. But yes, science fan Seth MacFarlane of 'Family Guy' fame brought it to Fox with the hope that the mainstream (and Reub!) would tune in.

[Tyler]

I loved the original Cosmos. The new one is quite good as well, although I've personally struggled with what feels like a minimum of one unnecessary shot at organized religion per episode.  I wish they'd focus on inspiring a love for science rather than constantly pulling out strained (and occasionally historically inaccurate) anti-religious themes.

[Reub]

I've been enjoying the Cosmos reboot even though a lot of friends compare it too closely with the original. Neil deGrasse Tyson is a great host.

You can catch a lot of reruns, maybe 4 of them, on Mondays on the Nat'l Geo channel. But yes, science fan Seth MacFarlane of 'Family Guy' fame brought it to Fox with the hope that the mainstream (and Reub!) would tune in.

I can't speak for the mainstream but they have definitely captured my attention with this show. There were one or two episodes that were a little too politically correct for my taste but overall it is great viewing.

[MachineGhost]

Don't you realize we are living inside a giant bubble with images of stars on the inside of the outer layer (or, are we just in the matrix)?  Sheesh, I guess you think men really landed on the moon instead of walking on the Hollywood stage-set.  FOX is just continuing the myth.  Get real! 

Yeah, I didn't want to say anything about the sheer irony of FOX hosting it...  it's just too much.

[MachineGhost]

I loved the original Cosmos. The new one is quite good as well, although I've personally struggled with what feels like a minimum of one unnecessary shot at organized religion per episode.  I wish they'd focus on inspiring a love for science rather than constantly pulling out strained (and occasionally historically inaccurate) anti-religious themes.

I think it's more to highlight how stiffling and unjust religious tyranny was back in the old days.  We all need reminding of that, especially the younger generations who may not be cognizant how truly EVIL it all was compared to the benigh religions of today (except Wahhabism, of course).  I'm glad they are not playing Western favorites and gave the Islamic Caliph Kingdom (I can't remember the name) its due credit.  It's important to realize science is agnostic and inclusive of all.  I think the best thing would be for this new series to be beamed to the Middle East.  They're living under a rock with their primitive religious mysticism.  That's cruel and a waste of human potential.

[dualstow]

Yeah, the history of science has some sad events caused by clashes between science & religion. Galileo comes to mind.
Those cathedral builders sure knew their math, though.

[MachineGhost]

Yeah, the history of science has some sad events caused by clashes between science & religion. Galileo comes to mind.
Those cathedral builders sure knew their math, though.

I never knew anything about the Cathedrals and what a thought revolution it was until I watched what I thought would be an incredibly boring video about archictecture and it blew my mind: https://video.pbs.org/video/1619317222/

[Reub]

I loved the original Cosmos. The new one is quite good as well, although I've personally struggled with what feels like a minimum of one unnecessary shot at organized religion per episode.  I wish they'd focus on inspiring a love for science rather than constantly pulling out strained (and occasionally historically inaccurate) anti-religious themes.

I think it's more to highlight how stiffling and unjust religious tyranny was back in the old days.  We all need reminding of that, especially the younger generations who may not be cognizant how truly EVIL it all was compared to the benigh religions of today (except Wahhabism, of course).  I'm glad they are not playing Western favorites and gave the Islamic Caliph Kingdom (I can't remember the name) its due credit.  It's important to realize science is agnostic and inclusive of all.  I think the best thing would be for this new series to be beamed to the Middle East.  They're living under a rock with their primitive religious mysticism.  That's cruel and a waste of human potential.

The problem with beaming the show to the Middle East is that the next time the Islamo fascists misbehave Obama can then blame it on the new Cosmos video and poor Mr Degrasse might end up in jail next to the poor guy who made that other video that they blamed for Benghazi.

[MachineGhost]

The problem with beaming the show to the Middle East is that the next time the Islamo fascists misbehave Obama can then blame it on the new Cosmos video and poor Mr Degrasse might end up in jail next to the poor guy who made that other video that they blamed for Benghazi.

I vaguely remember something about that.  Are you saying the director of that video that incited the Middle East riots has been imprisoned by Obama?

The guy that discovered the age of the earth via lead -- that episode seemed rather oddly political and out of place, even if it was a new revelation about GM for me (not that I can say I'm surprised or anything like that!).  But I can't help but see that kind of smug paternalistic chauvist executive corporatism in GM as being exactly the reason why I've never heard of the three women that blazed the trail for astrophysics!  Gawddamn.

[Reub]

The problem with beaming the show to the Middle East is that the next time the Islamo fascists misbehave Obama can then blame it on the new Cosmos video and poor Mr Degrasse might end up in jail next to the poor guy who made that other video that they blamed for Benghazi.

I vaguely remember something about that.  Are you saying the director of that video that incited the Middle East riots has been imprisoned by Obama?

I am fairly certain that he is still in jail.

[dualstow]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakoula_Ba ... prisonment

[Xan]

Commentary on the new Cosmos (well, at least the first episode) from the Roman Catholic perspective:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd3Y1tCwlBo

[MachineGhost]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakoula_Ba ... prisonment

Wow, that is some crazy whack!  It's always risky shooting peas at any so-called authority, legitimate or not.

What exactly was so inflammatory about the video?  Was it composed of falsehoods?

[MachineGhost]

Commentary on the new Cosmos (well, at least the first episode) from the Roman Catholic perspective:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd3Y1tCwlBo

Sheesh, sure reeks of apologism and historical revisionism to me.  Everyone's into damage control and public opinion shaping nowadays, even the Vatican.

[Reub]

A great episode tonight on the possibility of life throughout the universe and that some of it may have emanated from earth (and vice-versa). Of course they sprinkled in facts about the certainty of man-made global warming and they will have a global warming orgy on their next episode in 2 weeks. Now where did I put my sweater?