Sagan and Spinoza

Once we lose our fear of being tiny, we find ourselves on the threshold of a vast and awesome Universe which dwarfs -- in time, in space, and in potential -- the tidy anthropocentric proscenium of our ancestors. - Carl Sagan


The evolution of science and religion. Understanding that science does not tell anyone to invalidate their beliefs, but rejecting it as baseless, so "self interests" are cared for, is backward thinking. The entire progress of humanity relied on brave thinkers and doers challenging traditional ideas and thinking. If we just pause for a little while and contemplate on this, the feeling is profound. Or as Carl Sagan would say when understanding the universe, it gives "a profound sermon on humility".


Carl Sagan was always at the back of my mind, ever since I first read about Pale Blue Dot and quoted about that in 2010. That was just beautiful prose. I finally got around this year to isolate my mind of petty distractions and immerse into his works. 2019 to me is Carl Sagan.

Having a kid forces you to think about the conditions under which they grow. Teaching yourself to understand nature, so you are in a better informed position to answer all the innocent questions that the kid will come up with. And they are coming! I will be ready :-)

2020 - Practice rigorous rational self-governance. Baruch Spinoza and his ideals. Lets see how that will mess up my head :-)

Courage under Fire

The Manchester Orchestra - The Silence
Agnes Obel - Fuel to Fire
Angels and Airwaves - Tunnels
Led Zeppelin - The Wanton Song
The Yellow Diary - Marz
Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad - Khabaram Raseeda
Rizwan-Muazzam - Naina De Akhay

Human-influenced climate change is real. Almost every major scientific body around the world agrees to this fact. It's always best to listen to the experts than random entities who have no subject matter expertise on this serious topic. There is compelling evidence on this.  Right now a lot of confusion is implanted via the addictive social media. Confusion leads to inaction. Inaction means - carrying on with status quo. This is bad. An interesting comic - funny and scary - to summarize what we are up to if status quo is the norm.


Space exploration has tremendous advantages. Shun all bad reporting on this topic. Fact check all the time. Follow a bit of a philosophical touch with the right narrative.

Kid is growing tall. I click and clack away at my mechanical keyboard. Did a 10K run sometime ago. Marching on for some more before I set my sight at a half marathon. I've learned to see things from multiple viewpoints and give merit to all opinions. Sanity restored :-)

2 decades into the 21st century already! So much ahead for humanity

To live under the false pretense that you will forever have control of your station in life is to ride for a fall; you’re asking for disappointment. So make sure in your heart of hearts, in your inner self, that you treat your station in life with indifference, not with contempt, only with indifference 
- James Stockdale - Courage under Fire