Carl Sagan was an idiot

[myclob]

Reasons to agree: Carl Sagan said, "It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English -- up to 50 words used in correct context -- no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese‎." This is stupid. Sagan erroneously predicted in January 1991 that so much smoke from the Kuwaiti oil fires "might get so high as to disrupt agriculture in much of South Asia…" In 1994, Apple Computer began developing the Power Macintosh 7100. They chose the internal code name "Carl Sagan", the overt reference that the mid-range PowerMac 7100 should make Apple "billions and billions."[3] Behind the scenes, however, it was intended as a scathing criticism of Sagan and his brand of science.[citation needed] Though the internal project name was never used in public marketing, it did come up in Usenet postings and news of the name grew from there. When Sagan learned of this he sued Apple Computer to force the use of a different project name. Other models released conjointly had code names such as "Cold fusion" and "Piltdown Man". This was intentional as Apple engineers had used the names from what they felt were the three greatest science frauds of the twentieth century.[citation needed] Unaware of the true motive behind the code names Sagan was still displeased being associated with what he considered pseudoscience, as he was at the time writing a book discrediting pseudoscience. Though Sagan lost the lawsuit Apple management complied with his demands anyway and renamed the project "BHA" (for Butt-Head Astronomer). Sagan promptly sued Apple for libel over the new name, claiming that it subjected him to contempt and ridicule, but he lost this lawsuit as well. Still, the 7100 saw another name change: it was finally referred to internally as "LAW" (Lawyers Are Wimps).[30][31] In 1966, Sagan was asked to contribute an interview about the possibility of extraterrestrials to a proposed introduction to the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Sagan reportedly asked for control and a percentage of the film's box office receipts in return; these terms were rejected.[15] Reasons to disagree: Everyone does idiotic things. Sagan was very smart, of course.  Sagan was very concerned about humans not destroying ourselves. That is a good idea. Interest of those who agree: Criticizing Sagan, because he was an agnostic.  Interest of those who disagree: Defending Sagan, because he was an agnostic.  Books that can be said to agree ? Books that can be said to disagree ? People that agree ? People that disagree ? Webpages that agree ? Webpages that disagree ? Values that agree Values that disagree