1. Comment #279794 by Vanpastel on November 6, 2008 at 12:23 pm

This might sound a bit soppy, but tears came to my eyes as I watched this.

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2. Comment #279796 by amalthea on November 6, 2008 at 12:26 pm

Booked my flight on Titanian Airlines just now. Very expensive though.

I don't know why, but I smiled all the way through the video.

A

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3. Comment #279812 by Adrian Bartholomew on November 6, 2008 at 12:44 pm

I ADORE this website. Several times a day it has stories, articles, videos and audio that seem tailored to me personally. I just wish there was a podcast feed for new video/audio to which I could subscribe so I could get my daily RDF fix on my iPod.

Thank you so very much for this little gem of a video by the way! Fantastic.

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4. Comment #279815 by Bruno on November 6, 2008 at 12:46 pm

What if...
What if the human species on planet Earth could unite, and instead of tearing each other apart over whose God is bigger or better, we ALL could instead contribute and work together on projects like Cassini. Imagine what could be gained...what grand insights achieved. Such an idea seems at times so simple and obvious, but then at the same time so far, far away.

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5. Comment #279816 by gyokusai on November 6, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Here: tears, too.

^_^J.

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6. Comment #279817 by Mr Blue Sky on November 6, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Took ages to load but worth the wait I think. Reality is so much better than fantasy!

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7. Comment #279825 by NewSkeptic on November 6, 2008 at 12:54 pm

As soon as I saw Carolyn Porco's name against this item, I said "Yes!"

Watching it now ...

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8. Comment #279847 by mr-zero on November 6, 2008 at 1:15 pm

Better than a burning bush!

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9. Comment #279855 by NewEnglandBob on November 6, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Science, great pictures and terrific background music - that is MY definition of heavenly.

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10. Comment #279861 by ingodwerust on November 6, 2008 at 1:41 pm

Wonderful - I could be proud, except I know how rare such enterprise is. I salute all involved.

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11. Comment #279863 by rod-the-farmer on November 6, 2008 at 1:44 pm

Now isn't this MUCH more awe-inspiring than some bronze age myths and miracles ? Those we heard about not just second hand, but umpty-dozenth hand. THESE we can see with our own eyes. And just wait until next week, or next month, or next year ! It is only going to get better.

(Pedant rears head)......why is it that people working with these measurements DAILY cannot pronounce the word properly ?? There is no such word as kil-AW-meter. It is kilo-meeter. Just like milli-meeter. Or kilo-gram. It does NOT rhyme with speedometer. The kilo prefix indicates 'thousands' of something. Yes, Carolyn does a good job, and she has been part of space science for many years, but for goodness sake, she sounds like Dubya and "nuke-you-lar". (Pedant resumes seat.)

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12. Comment #279867 by Shaden on November 6, 2008 at 1:57 pm

Not to rain on your rant there rod, but it's kilometer and millimeter, with one e.

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13. Comment #279869 by Goldy on November 6, 2008 at 2:11 pm

Utter pedantry here, but for most of the world, metre is spelt thusly, the French way. Meter is only used in the US.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre

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14. Comment #279871 by Vanpastel on November 6, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Comment #279867 by Shaden
I think Rod is referring to the fact that the stress falls on that e (hence the doubling).

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15. Comment #279872 by Gmork on November 6, 2008 at 2:13 pm

Nice.

I remember having Cypress Hill playing in the background while listening to one of her talks. Her voice appeared very musical and alive against the music, compared to the many dry and boring talks I've suffered through, which can be the final nail in the coffin for those borderline heads.

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16. Comment #279877 by gyokusai on November 6, 2008 at 2:21 pm

rod-the-farmer sez:
(Pedant rears head)......why is it that people working with these measurements DAILY cannot pronounce the word properly ?? There is no such word as kil-AW-meter. It is kilo-meeter. Just like milli-meeter. Or kilo-gram. It does NOT rhyme with speedometer. The kilo prefix indicates 'thousands' of something. Yes, Carolyn does a good job, and she has been part of space science for many years, but for goodness sake, she sounds like Dubya and "nuke-you-lar". (Pedant resumes seat.)

rod-the-farmer, have you ever heard of Language Log? A nice place to hang out, incidentally, with Geoff Pullum, Mark Liberman, Arnold Zwicky, and other famous linguists. Now, Mark commented (in red color/myl) on a comment not unlike yours, only a bit more rude.

Enjoy:
http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=475#comment-7681

(And Porco's my hero, even if that might not count as an argument ;-))

Cheers,
^_^J.

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17. Comment #279887 by Quetzalcoatl on November 6, 2008 at 2:35 pm

To hell with how they pronounce stuff, this is a great film. It should be shown in schools.

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18. Comment #279904 by weavehole on November 6, 2008 at 3:24 pm

Beautiful.
Just beautiful.

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19. Comment #279908 by rod-the-farmer on November 6, 2008 at 3:30 pm

I normally use kiloMETRE, to further emphasize that it is a unit of length, as opposed to a "meter", a device for measuring something. But I figured I would raise enough hackles trying to correct pronunciation, let alone spelling, which of course was not provided in an audio recording. For those who cannot get their tongues around kilo-metre, try using "klicks". This was used by the U.S. space program people.

On a related item, I am informed the word halogen (as regards light bulbs) is pronounced "hay-lo-gen". NOT "hal-o-gen" as in the computer Hal from the movie, a common mis-pronunciation. This would align with "halides", from chemistry. Just thought some of you would like to know. (Pedant resumes seat)

Bottom line is that the achievement is spectacular. If they ever need volunteers for a manned, but one-way mission to Mars, or to "infinity and beyond !", count me in.

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20. Comment #279909 by Goldy on November 6, 2008 at 3:33 pm

Rod - I was mostly being pedantic about Shaden's pedantry :-)
Hey, it's Friday, I turned 41 yesterday and the weekend looks good - surely I can have a wee bit of fun? :-D

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21. Comment #279911 by 8teist on November 6, 2008 at 3:34 pm

Pedants unite, behead all those who say pedants are intolerant.

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22. Comment #279912 by Goldy on November 6, 2008 at 3:34 pm

8teist
Behead or decapitate?

;-)

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23. Comment #279914 by 8teist on November 6, 2008 at 3:37 pm

On second thoughts .................stoning , with little pebbles ,to make it last.

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24. Comment #279917 by rod-the-farmer on November 6, 2008 at 3:41 pm

I prefer people gravel in front of me.

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25. Comment #279920 by Goldy on November 6, 2008 at 3:53 pm

Bugger it - stone people by staring hard at them. Last forever, no shortage of material and then get the message :-)

Rod - people gravel' Like laying a road. Always useful...
:-D

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26. Comment #279927 by asyouwere on November 6, 2008 at 4:08 pm

I'm hoping that someone thought to sterilize the Titan lander before launch.

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27. Comment #279932 by Crazymalc on November 6, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Rock on!

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28. Comment #279944 by Rawhard Dickins on November 6, 2008 at 4:54 pm

Science is knowledge

Religion is the antithesis

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29. Comment #279951 by Dispiracist on November 6, 2008 at 5:08 pm

For youse guys afflicted with pedantic linguism, relief can be found in John McWhorter’s audio lectures for The Teaching Company: “The Story of Language”.

You’ll also find it interesting from the perspective of applied evolutionary theory and understanding human development and the global spread of civilisation. Having read McWhorter I am now comfortable in using this information to annoy my kids. Like correcting their inappropriate use of abandoned and virtually extinct expressions. Eg. ‘going to’ when ‘gonna’ is the prevailing word, and the need to not never miss no opportunities to emphasise by multiple negatives.

There’s a time to flow with the changes and a time for precision in language. You need to be aware of the inevitable rapid flow of language to even notice when precision is prudent. The Mars Climate Orbiter was effectively destroyed by the shared assumption that language is static and universal.

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30. Comment #279954 by Goldy on November 6, 2008 at 5:12 pm

I just am a pedant for the annoyance of others :-)
I especially like to use terms in the wrong era (I am gay today) and I love to use UK English to correct US English and US English to correct UK English. I alos like to irk people who bemoan Americanisms by pointing out they are more English than the words they use :-)
Gotta love language - never sits still and atrophies!

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31. Comment #279955 by Shaden on November 6, 2008 at 5:17 pm

Goldy,

"Utter pedantry here, but for most of the world, metre is spelt thusly, the French way. Meter is only used in the US."

Yes, well maybe it's the odd spelling that's the reason we still haven't adopted the metric system.

Kilometre? Does that rhyme with Demetri?

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32. Comment #279956 by robotaholic on November 6, 2008 at 5:18 pm

whin i sow Carolyn Porco eye freekd owt 2- az in eye had 2 wotch!

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33. Comment #279958 by ADePSP on November 6, 2008 at 5:20 pm

I can no nothing but smile, get goose bumps and clap...

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34. Comment #279963 by mark8 on November 6, 2008 at 5:27 pm

Carolyn Porco's favourite Cassini photos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNOAgdvnSRY

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35. Comment #279965 by Goldy on November 6, 2008 at 5:28 pm

Shaden, the final "e" is silent :-)
And we all know it rhymes with centre :-D
I also love Imperial - but not the US one....your pint is wrong and leaves one short-changed in pubs ;-)

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36. Comment #279969 by robotaholic on November 6, 2008 at 5:30 pm

ty mark8

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37. Comment #279973 by Shaden on November 6, 2008 at 5:38 pm

Darn British. If you're going to have useless letters, why not go all out? Should start using Olde English. Whene everythinge hade ane Ee one thee ende.

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38. Comment #279976 by Styrer- on November 6, 2008 at 5:43 pm

Comment #279794 by Vanpastel on November 6, 2008 at 12:23 pm

Not 'soppy' in the slightest. Rain in my eyes too, after seeing this, and I'm no soppy fucker.

Simply breathtaking.

Why is it that I can simply luxuriate in the sheer minuteness that we are, in the sheer luck that we're granted a chance to see such things, when theists are so unsimply and so arrogantly solipsitically continuing to claim that all of this - all of the wonders Carolyn demonstrates above - revolves exclusively and purposely around them?

Phew. I don't know which is more breathtaking - the sheer wonder and magnificance of the images above, or the unbridled arrogance and utter self-centredness of the religious mindset which would seek, literally, and horribly, to take our breath away.

Best,
Styrer

Other Comments by Styrer-

39. Comment #279981 by Goldy on November 6, 2008 at 5:49 pm

Shaden, them useless letters only occurred when the page needed filling. Sometimes letters were omitted :-)
But yes, old English would be good. Many more words then - our vocabulary has somewhat shrunk in the passage of time :-(

But anyway, back to the wonders that transcend this argument over the semantics of a transient form of communication, of spellings of words that will no longer be used in time ...

Other Comments by Goldy

40. Comment #280005 by Ishruul on November 6, 2008 at 6:07 pm

Bah! All heresy and blasphemy I tell you! You should all read the good book!

Science....bah, like it'll take us somewhere!

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41. Comment #280045 by Delsolar16 on November 6, 2008 at 6:57 pm

What a great video. But how come everytime there is a video or news story that has nothing to do with god, there are so many comments that bring god in to the conversation? Can we not just watch this video and appreciate it for what it is without the "creationists are so ignorant and stupid" idea running through our heads? I know that in my case I've become almost obsessed with thinking about creationism everytime I read some new research or finding regarding evolution, planetary science, etc. It just seems like it would be better to not think about that sort of thing while watching videos that can leave you in awe like this one.

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42. Comment #280056 by Styrer- on November 6, 2008 at 7:42 pm

Comment #280045 by Delsolar16 on November 6, 2008 at 6:57 pm

You must be fucking joking.

As awe-struck as you are, and rightly so, by watching this video, you will do yourself, atheism, secularism, science, reason and rationality an enormous disservice if you do not attempt to make clear, having seen it, that superstitious supernaturalist faithoholicalism falls spectacularly under the weight of evidence such as this, against such preposterous propositions as it constantly maintains, and by which it constantly fucks things up in matters of science and of ethics for the rest of us.

It astonishes me that you, sir, as an atheist, in full knowledge, presumably, of the horrendously sickeningly humanly faith-based affronts to reason that theists claim to be their right by dint of faith, cannot see that the above images offer a gloriously shrieking condemnation and refutation of the solipsistic, parochial, immoral, and frankly boring precepts by which theists claim to live their lives; and that you seem incapable of grasping that theists are more than capable, utterly disingenuously, of appropriating such images in promotion of their utterly skewered belief that 'Goddit, 'cos it looks nice'.

Remember, will you, that the tongue-lashing I've just let loose on you crumbles to fucking nothing before the horrors that theism - wholly unimpressed as it seems to remain with images such as the above - is amply capable of inflicting on you entirely in my absence.

Now grow up and grow a pair while you're at it.

Styrer

Other Comments by Styrer-

43. Comment #280062 by Delsolar16 on November 6, 2008 at 8:11 pm

Ouch. I feel you put too much effort in to your reply as my comment shouldn't have been offensive at all. Religion is horrible, I agree, but personally I hate how I keep getting trapped in to seeing scientific evidence as being against a theistic point of view even though it is. Do you know what I mean? It's like when I watch a program on evolution all I'm thinking is "Ha! Take that creationists" instead of "Wow that is beautiful". That's all I was saying.

Other Comments by Delsolar16

44. Comment #280063 by A on November 6, 2008 at 8:12 pm

I lack the part of the brain to be impressed, looks nice, seems interesting, but nothing more.

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45. Comment #280067 by Styrer- on November 6, 2008 at 8:40 pm

Comment #280062 by Delsolar16 on November 6, 2008 at 8:11 pm

The war is not won, so your laying down before the enemy - which you have every right to do, but for which you'll receive only my condemnation - is premature.

'This is a battle, a war, and the casualties could be your hearts and souls'. John Keating, Hellton Academy.

Replace 'souls' with 'heads' and it's about right.

Styrer

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46. Comment #280069 by Goldy on November 6, 2008 at 8:48 pm

Now grow up and grow a pair while you're at it.

I'm assuming you don't mean breasts... ;-)
If so, please, Delsolar16, take mine. Apparently moobs are not sexy on a guy...

:-D

Now I have brought this to gutter level, I shall make a hasty retreat to the kitchen to cook dinner...

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47. Comment #280070 by Rational_G on November 6, 2008 at 8:48 pm

"The realities of nature surpass our most ambitious dreams." - Rodin

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48. Comment #280071 by Macropus on November 6, 2008 at 8:48 pm

I regularly visit the Cassini site because it is well-maintained, updated regularly, and above all interesting. My lunch times are spent flitting round the solar system to visit the various planetary probes (and even beyond - the Voyagers are now leaving the solar system and still talking to us).

But I was a little disappointed in this video. It was an excellent compilation of images but with little or no information attached to them. It was probably made as an "Isn't science wonderful" exercise (which is fine as far as it goes) but if anyone is aware of a similar video with some meat on it (e.g. at least a mention of the geysers on Enceladus, the honeycomb structure of Phoebe, the lakes on Titan, the peculiar F ring etc), I'd be grateful for a link.

That would be more likely to impress my scientifically illiterate god-bothering friends.

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49. Comment #280072 by Delsolar16 on November 6, 2008 at 8:55 pm

Eh forget it. I'm not "laying down before the enemy", I'm simply trying to watch a video or read a scientific article without thinking about how pissed off I always am at creationists.

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50. Comment #280077 by Acleron on November 6, 2008 at 9:15 pm

Awesome and awe inspiring.

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