GWC Podcast #193

Podcasts Galactic Watercooler
#21

I can make a very worst case scenario, with apologies to John Scalzi and James Cameron:
[SCENE OPENS]
Alien X walks down the gangplank. It has been a long journey and its tentacles are sore. It approaches the Captain and briskly salutes.

“Captain, we have arrived at the blue planet, I am transmitting the report you requested to your BrainPal now.”

The Captain blinks its three sets of eyes slowly as it absorbs the full analysis of the planet, covering all cultures, species, flora and fauna current and historical to the dawn of time. It takes it approximately two seconds to issue his command:

“I say we nuke the entire planet from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.”
[FADE TO BLACK]

#22

hey! Something contact SETI about this : http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/ap/20091111/twl-eu-vatican-aliens-c8e2916.html

Just imagine … SETI and the Vatican allied in the search for ET life… sigh… Science & Faith going hand-in-hand… :eek:

#23

What a stunning way to cap the Cosmos and Contact Arcs. This 'cast was truly amazing. I had the same feelings listening to Ann and Nick as I did watching Cosmos. Hopeful, totally awed, and a little sad. Seems we all felt that way by the sounds of things.

I think one of the reasons this subject matter strikes us on several levels at once like this is that in this community, we’ve all probably spent hundreds (if not more!) of hours thinking about the stars, and the universe, and whether or not we’re alone in all the unimaginable heavens. So we’re invested in this material, in a lot of cases since we were just kids.

Another reason is Carl Sagan’s tremendous gift for transferring his passion so easily to his students (and we’re all his students now, everyone who’s watched, have no doubt.) The guy was simply magic to watch and listen to. And we are very, very lucky that Cosmos exists, that we can watch and learn and be amazed by him, and pass that sense of wonder on. What an incredible legacy he’s left us.

There’s not enough thanks to go around for bringing this series to our attention, GWC. Thanks especially to Sean for advocating the arc. I’ll put this right up there even with Firefly in my “awesome things I probably never would have checked out were it not for GWC” list. And that’s some damn fine company to be in.

#24

regarding a Dr. Horrible Prequel, a few days ago a Fan Film was released on the Internet which covers the early years of our beloved Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along characters which you can find at: http://horribleturn.com/

#25

Fantastic cast (at least by the half way mark)! We need more people like Carl Sagan. The interview just solidified how awesome this dude was. Not sure why, but I hope when I die someone has such good things to say about me.

Also watched Contact this weekend (havent watched since highschool probably) and I really enjoyed it. Although I spent literally the entire length of the film thinking to myself: Why are these people so afraid? Couldnt fathom how people so scared managed to get out of bed in the morning. OMG THE ALIENS ARE COMING RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!?!?! It was pathetic. Like I said, we need more Carl Sagans/ Ellie Arroways and less of all those others.

#26

Here’s a heads up for fans of past GWC guest John Boswell’s “Glorious Dawn”. John has had pressed a vinyl recording of the song, and it’s available as of Nov 9th. The thing that, to me, makes it really sweet (aside from the super music and Sagan’s lyric) is this: on the B side of the record, they’ve engraved the famous diagram that resides on the cover of the 2 Voyager space probes’ gold LPs !

Info at www.SymphonyofScience.com
and
www.ThirdManRecords.com

#27

So, this popped up and came at just about the right time:

http://xkcd.com/663/

#28

Love it! :slight_smile:

#29

Seriously makes you wonder if the XKCD guy is listening.

#30

Good comment friend.I feel the same way.I freakin cried during this podcast ! It’s anns fault.I could hear and feel her pain.She’s brilliant herself.Her contribution to carls work is worth recognition.Carl,(and ann surprisingly),mean,and meant more to me than i realized…and i realized quite a bit.
I digress,but isn’t audreys (one of the hosts,i think it’s audrey,i’m new to GWC) voice used in GTA4 or 5 for one of the stations hosts? I listened to mp3’s normally while playing,but her sexy voice and humor made her station worth while.I’m sure it’s her,her voice is unique.I recognized it instantly.Audrey,I hope you’ll read this,and respond…anyone? am i right?

#31

You mean Audra? I don’t think that’s her. I’d love to hear some game audio, though.

Welcome aboard, BTW.

#32

I’ve just discovered this forum and this community, and just wanted to say thank you for that tremendous podcast. I had seen “Contact” many years ago but didn’t discover “Cosmos” until I borrowed the DVDs from my library a couple of years ago. It really was a life-changing and perspective-changing experience for me, and I’ve been a huge Carl Sagan fan ever since. Again, thank you.

Wanted to share a couple of things:

First, a “Radiolabs” podcast featuring Ann Druyan and Neil deGrasse Tyson (director of the Hayden Planetarium in NYC), about space exploration and discovery:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/episodes/2006/05/12

And second, the news of the future launch of LightSail-1–a solar-sail spacecraft that’s the result of collaboration between Cosmos Studios (headed by Ann Druyan) and the Planetary Society (co-founded by Carl):

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/space/10solar.html

So Carl’s dream lives on! And I love how the quote at the end of the article, from Dr. Louis Friedman, echoes Carl’s words about the earth being “the shore of the cosmic ocean… Recently we’ve waded a little way out… and the water seems inviting.”

Peace.

#33

Welcome aboard, Bluejay, and thanks for the links.

#34

Thanks Pike,and your right,it’s audra.I’m glad to be here at GWC with people that share my interests.(besides playing with dolls :eek:).
You said your not sure,so i sent her and chuck the question.I hope they answer.Audra is only 20yrs old from what i’ve gathered,so working in the GTA series is unlikely.[her apparent age,combined with her unique,sexy voice makes me desire her even more.I don’t care if she chews tobacco,and blows snot rockets :rolleyes:] :
LOVE YA AUDRA !! :slight_smile:

#35

yeah, that’s pretty much how we all feel about her :smiley:

#36

I was just listening to an old WNYC’s Radio Lab podcast from 8/27/07 entitled This is Your Brain on Love. The first half is about neural trasmitters but the second part has Ann Druyan recollections about her and Carl falling in love. It’s pretty much how you’d expect two scientists to do it. It can be found on ITunes…

#37

Thanks! on my ipod now!

#38

She’s not 20 but I’m sure she’ll appreciate you saying she is!

#39

As far as we know, we’re all 20 around here…

#40

Not me. I’m 42. You know, the answer to life, universe, and everything.