Crap, I should have known that. Almost half of the really intelligent things I know came from Mr. Sagan.
It’s only now, as an adult that I begin to understand just how much he truly taught me. Without ever meeting me or knowing that I exist - he shaped my understanding of the universe I live in a great deal more than I would have expected.
I suppose if you are going to learn, learn from the best.
[sorrowfull sigh] He was very much ahead of his time.
I recommend:
Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful…and don’t hate because I’ve never seen The Big Lebowski.
But I see that my favorite actor Steve Buscemi is in it. So I’m in …Netflixing it now.
Oh, and one of my Favorite movies of all TIME is another Joel and Ethan Coen movie: Miller’s Crossing
You guys had some nice shout-outs to some of the perennial members of the GWC community. Old Timer is always good for a mind blowing theory. It was also nice of Audra the reference RMHPH at 1:38:47 in the podcast… 
Regarding the Enterprise being built on land so Kirk could do his little Top Gun motorcycle move. I could also imagine a different scene were there rebellious young Kirk go out and spends a night alone in the wilderness as the previous movies show he likes to do. Pulls out some futuristic binoculars, trains them on the sky and watched the in construction Enterprise float by in orbit. In reality, a construction platform big enough for the Enterprise would be nearly visible to the naked eye…
The cannon is that it was built on earth, but assembled in space. So you could just as easily had him looking at a section of the ship, if you didn’t have a JJA-sized ego.
It was really cool, I wasa riding down the road with my 9 year old son and out of no where he asks, “Hey dad, do you know the 1st rule of robotics?” I told him what it was and he tells me that I am exactly right. I was blown away because I didn’t know how he had come across this info. Turns out his grandparents were listening to I, Robot (from Audible.com of course!:)) in the car on a trip they recently went on. He absolutely loved the book and really absorbed quite a bit of it…I just thought that it was really cool!
Ok, I have now completed my first post on here after having been lurking for a while 
welcome, sporkman!! that’s a great story. you’re raising that kid well
I imagine he was blown away that Dad knew the answer.
Welcome aboard, sporkman.
What you said.
One line that Carl Sagan said in the series that I think really embodies the philosophy of the show for me:
“If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the Universe.”
Now THAT is quality parenting. And grandparenting. The family that sci/fi’s together stays together. Welcome to the fleet, sir (assuming Spork-man has a gender element and isn’t a family name).
And the caller from last week with the “Merry Xmas from our empire to yours” story. That was awesome too.
I have to add my voice to the chorus of sickies. I feel like clammy death warmed up
I was quite pleased that Sean came quite close to dramatica theory when he tried to figure out whether the Enterprise is a character…
Check this out :
In Dramatica theory, a character is basically a set of story functions that is filled out in a vessel known as the player. For example, Dr Jekyll (Protagonist) & Mr Hyde (Antagonist) are 2 characters filled out by the same player.
In the movie Jaws, the story function of guardian is fulfilled by an inanimate player (dry land). The same phenomenon occurs in sci-fi shows with regards to spaceships.
I’m sorry I’m not able to enunciate Dramatica theory as well as Chris Huntley; neither do I expect everyone to be interested in the dry technical aspects of story writing, but you guys should check out the links below to pique your interest :
all about character theory
http://www.dramatica.com/theory/theory_faqs/character_faq.html#oc_faq_02
and the Dramatica website proper :
Just gotta say while listening. When Chuck said, “I like candy” I started singing at the same time Audra did. I think I hurt myself laughing.
UGH! Talos! I had just gotten that goofy song out of my head!
I’m about 50 minutes into this 'cast and I just gotta say: Kudos to you Chuck.
Holy crap. When I’ve got a bad cold I’m like “Please leave me alone human race”–I don’t feel like talkin’.
But here you are doing a 2 hour+ podcast and being as deep and intelligent as ever. No human could do that.
The gig is up. You must be a robot…nice diversion there with the fake cold. But we’re on to your game.
Another great salve for the sickness: Crispy garlic (chicken) wings and a shot of whiskey.
i really enjoyed this podcast! thanks guys, this make my day.
Hey guys, first post here. Just dropping in here to say i really enjoyed the cast, although. (Due to no fault of y’all’s.) I almost fell asleep listening to it. Mostly due to coming at near midnight and seeing I had a new GWC. Then deciding I should listen to it. After about half an hour I was totally drifting off. A decided to stop listening there. I mean you want to be fully awake for quality podcasting.
The zoreth(i think thats the name for it.) Law of robotitics came up rather recently for me actully in a roleplaying game. Set in the Iron Kingdoms setting. About giving things called Steamjacks(think steam powered robots,although they are not subject to the laws of robotics.) commands. They have basic intelligence and abillity to follow insturctions. About what would happen if you told the 'Jack “Save the world.” and its compelled to follow it.
Otherwise I loved the iRobot discussion. It reminded me of watching the movie with my family and them being in awe of some of the plot. While thinking “thats not to disimilair to some other things i’ve seen.” Not to say its an outdated or copied concept. I think its fantastic that it brings some of the common sci-fi concepts to the mainstream movie audience.
Oh and hope you feel better soon Chuck.
Welcome aboard, dude.
That’s a pretty good summation of the Zeroeth law of robotics. WikiP has an entry on the history of it.
Hey. The movie with the recording thing is Strange Days. Its got Ralph Finnes in it in the first role i saw him. He played the dealer of the recording unit software. It all took place on the eve of Y2K. It was sort of Film Noiry a little. It also had Angela Basset, Tom Sizemore (who i think y’all are putting in place of Chris Walken ). It was a really awesome movie. It came out in 95.