tagged w/ Arthur C. Clarke
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(Physicist Michio Kaku), (Stand-up Comedian, Social critic, Actor and Author George Carlin), (Science Fiction(?) Author Arthur C. Clarke), (Astronaut Buzz Aldrin) Sounds of the Earth all in the mix. Speaking on m-theory, natural earth occurrences, and the visions of the future!(Physicist Michio Kaku), (Stand-up Comedian, Social critic, Actor and Author George... more
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"The question Artsutanov asked himself had the childlike brilliance of true genius. A merely clever man could never have thought of it -- or would have dismissed it instantly as absurd. If the laws of celestial mechanics make it possible for an object to stay fixed in the sky, might it not be possible to lower a cable down to the surface, and so to establish an elevator system linking earth to space?" -- Arthur C. Clarke, 1979, "The Fountains of Paradise"
(CNN) -- It sounds like science fiction. And it was.
Now, 30 years after "2001" author Arthur C. Clarke wrote about an elevator that rises into outer space, serious research is happening all over the world in an effort to make the far-fetched-sounding idea a reality.
The benefits of a fully realized elevator would make carrying people and goods into space cheaper, easier and safer than with rocket launches, proponents say, opening up a host of possibilities.
Restaurants and hotels for space tourists. Wind turbines that provide energy by spinning 24 hours a day. A cheaper, easier and more environmentally friendly way to launch rockets.
Scientists envision all of the above -- possibly within our lifetimes.
"Space elevator-related research is valid, but there are hurdles to overcome," said David Smitherman, a space architect at NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center.
(more at link)"The question Artsutanov asked himself had the childlike brilliance of true... more
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British visionary and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke died on March 19, 2008 at the age of 90. Clarke, who has lived in Sri Lanka since 1956, was buried in his adopted country on March 22. His request not to have any sort of state funeral from either of his island nations sounded just like the man I've come to know through anecdotes told by people around Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital city.
My Sri Lankan father used to go spear fishing with him, and almost anyone would tell you that he could often be found at Otter's Swimming Club, at least in his healthier days. On one trip to visit my Sri Lankan family, I made it my mission to get Sir Clarke's autograph for my author friend, Jeff Gelb. Luckily, my cousin happened to run into him, and was able to just ask him and get it for me, because although he was listed in the phone book, being from L.A., I was too keenly aware of violations of celebrity privacy to just call or drop by.
Following Sri Lankan tradition, his body was kept for viewing at his home in Colombo 7, (Sri Lanka's equivalent to '90210'). With elephant tusks creating an arch over his body, and white gloves on his folded hands, loved ones could look onto his peacefully resting face to say their final farewells. According to his close family friend, he wanted written on his tombstone the following: 'Here lies Arthur Clarke. He never grew up, but didn't stop growing'.
Though they observed his wishes and did not hold a state funeral, the government did ask for a minute of silence to be held throughout the island at the same time that their most famous expatriate was being buried. Police and security personnel led the way while a mix of politicians, ever-present saffron-robed Buddhist monks and a Catholic priest joined the procession of mourners as they walked to the cemetery and watched as the sci-fi guru's body was laid to rest.
Sri Lanka offered the backdrop for at least one of Sir Arthur C. Clarke's books: The Fountains of Paradise. "He always loved it here -- the warm climate and the friendly people," his younger brother, Fred Clarke, told AFP. "He said he had managed to escape 40 British winters and had no regrets."
On his 90th birthday in December, he expressed a wish for lasting peace in his adopted homeland, which has been torn by more than 35 years of fighting between government troops and Tamil separatists. Knowing that many of his ideas have become reality, I can only hope that this one will as well.
His foundation (www.clarkefoundation.org) plans to keep up his visionary work so that his legacy can continue to enrich the lives of those of us he's left behind.
Image courtesy of the Clarke Foundation.
Daily Mantra contributor Malayna Dawn splits her time between Los Angeles and Sri Lanka.British visionary and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke died on March 19, 2008... more
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British-born science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke died at a hospital in Sri Lanka on Wednesday, his aide Rohan de Silva told AFP. He was 90.
Clarke had been in and out of hospital since his 90th birthday in December and had breathing difficulties, de Silva said. British-born science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke died at a hospital in Sri Lanka... more
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The Kubrick Site has been established as a non-profit resource archive for documentary materials regarding, in whole or in part, the work of the late American film director and producer Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999). We'd like to thank the literally thousands of readers and participants whose contributions appear in these pages.The Kubrick Site has been established as a non-profit resource archive for documentary... more
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