Cosmos: Possible Worlds gives me a reason to live. It is a catalog of our greatest triumphs and some of our worst downfalls. It is a companion and addition to past science media (including both prior Cosmos programs), meaning there’s something new here for all but the most well-read student of science and history.
Telling untold stories seem to have been the mission of this season. Science does not belong to white men, and Neil deGrasse Tyson broadens the definition of science to include people from before recorded history.
I wanted to consolidate some thoughts I had. This is a rough collection of ideas rather than an organized essay.
Porn is in a precarious and almost unique position in American law. Every tech company crackdown, every “won’t someone think of the children”, every “I don’t care if you do that, but don’t do it here” actually makes it harder to win court cases. They make it easier for some regressive lawyer to tell you that what you do in private among consenting adults is “obscene”.
Nightcrawler shows without telling. A two hour movie that flies by, it has one of the sleaziest characters I’ve ever seen. We see what it takes for a man to rise through the ranks of TV news and become a business owner. The music and cinematography, the bulk of which happens at night, contribute to a dreamy aesthetic. Not just the main character but the whole cast are incredibly believable.
Sneakers (1992) would never be made today.
No movie made today could ever be pro-union, even in an offhand prop. Even though Hollywood is one of the only American bastions of unions.
I am also struck by the attitude toward hacking in this era. Around the 80s-00s, we have: TRON
WarGames
Sneakers
Hackers
The Matrix
All of them look to the computer age with wonder and hope, in their own way.
As with last year, I’m gonna assume silence means you agree with the status quo. None of this “my friends already know what I think” bullshit. It’s time to tell them.
you could start by going on the record on this one, because it is not the mainstream political position right now:
regardless of innocence, if you shoot an unarmed 13 year old on camera, you should be in jail until your court date.