There is no simple formula for the relationship of art to justice. But I do know that art—in my own case the art of poetry—means nothing if it simply decorates the dinner table of power which holds it hostage. The radical disparities of wealth and power in America are widening at a devastating rate. A President cannot meaningfully honor certain token artists while the people at large are so dishonored.

Happy birthday, Adrienne RichThe 1997 letter with which the beloved poet became the only person to turn down the prestigious National Medal of Arts.

(via explore-blog)

This is the true story of 10 strangers picked to live in a villa, work together and have their lives inscribed to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real.

thedailywhat:

Coming Soon of the Day: Neil Degrasse Tyson Will Host the Sequel of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos
Though it’s been quietly in the works since 2011, Fox has officially confirmed that Carl Sagan’s monumental 1970 sci-ed miniseries Cosmos: A Personal Voyage will be getting an updated sequel next year, which will consist of 13 episodes produced by Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane and hosted by one of the Internet’s most celebrated astrophysicists, Neil Degrasse Tyson. Fox is hoping the show will have as much as of cultural impact as Carl Sagan’s original series, which still remains one of the most watched PBS series in the world to this day.
(Image by Richard Davies)

“He who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration.” That’s Samuel Taylor Coleridge basically saying that you should read all of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s books so that when you finally watch the updated Cosmos mini-series on PBS next year your mind will be completely blown to bits by the awesomeness of science.

thedailywhat:

Coming Soon of the Day: Neil Degrasse Tyson Will Host the Sequel of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos

Though it’s been quietly in the works since 2011, Fox has officially confirmed that Carl Sagan’s monumental 1970 sci-ed miniseries Cosmos: A Personal Voyage will be getting an updated sequel next year, which will consist of 13 episodes produced by Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane and hosted by one of the Internet’s most celebrated astrophysicists, Neil Degrasse Tyson. Fox is hoping the show will have as much as of cultural impact as Carl Sagan’s original series, which still remains one of the most watched PBS series in the world to this day.

(Image by Richard Davies)

“He who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration.” That’s Samuel Taylor Coleridge basically saying that you should read all of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s books so that when you finally watch the updated Cosmos mini-series on PBS next year your mind will be completely blown to bits by the awesomeness of science.