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Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.

I don't think Sagan was making a prediction, though, he was just reporting known results.

Is there an astronomy equivalent of poetic license?

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Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.

for poets

There once was an astronomer named Phil,
To correct errors gave him a thrill,
He started a website
To get everything right
Now the woo-woos call him a pill.

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Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.

=D>

Thought I think "He started a site, to get everything right" would scan a little better.

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

One Earth, One Sky - IYA 2009

First off, may I just say that Carl Sagan was the Freakin' MAN!



ah-hem..with that out of the way. I'd say he was being poetic to try and instill in viewers/readers his own love for the mystery of life...and that the scientific way of viewing things (as opposed to the theological way) is actually much much more awe inspiring and there's nothing dull about it.



It's also a useful statement because it leads to the end of Cosmos, where he pretty much posits the meaning of life, in his own view. (And for all intensive purposes, I agree with him).

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"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts."
--Bertrand Russell