Thinking stuff...
Open
Democracy - good writing with no axes to grind.
The Brookings Institute is always
putting out thoughtful and well researched ideas.
Heroes and heroines:
I would have dearly loved to learn everything that the late Carl Sagan might have had time to tell me - a wonderful and eloquent scientist, and fellow human being. If you haven't already done so, read his words about our pale blue dot; I defy you not to be moved by them.
Same goes too for Richard Feynman. In one clip on the link page he explains, better than I ever could, why it's OK to be just plain uncertain about things. In another he says, "I have a limited intelligence and I've used it in a particular direction" - omitting to point out, in his modesty, that his ideas and insights changed the world, and continue to do so.
Christopher Hitchens died in late 2011. I fear I shall not see his like again in my lifetime. His pugnacious, uncompromising approach to things that he felt important in life were not to everyone's liking but when it came to force of reason, clarity of argument, point of principle and sheer awesome brainpower I would not wish, or need, for anyone else batting on my side. I have many of his most quotable phrases safely stored and easily accessible, such that whenever I feel the need for a bit more backbone, his words are on hand to energise me. Such is a true legacy.
James Randi - whom I admire for telling it like it is... Bob Carroll - for providing a skeptic's refuge, and a dictionary to accompany it. |
