AdamSmith Posted December 17, 2007 Posted December 17, 2007 One of my idols, Arthur C. Clarke, turned 90 yesterday. Herewith part of his birthday message... ...I have great faith in optimism as a guiding principle, if only because it offers us the opportunity of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. So I hope we've learnt something from the most barbaric century in history – the 20th. I would like to see us overcome our tribal divisions and begin to think and act as if we were one family. That would be real globalisation… As I complete 90 orbits, I have no regrets and no more personal ambitions. But if I may be allowed just three wishes, they would be these. Firstly, I would like to see some evidence of extra-terrestrial life. I have always believed that we are not alone in the universe. But we are still waiting for ETs to call us – or give us some kind of a sign. We have no way of guessing when this might happen – I hope sooner rather than later! Secondly, I would like to see us kick our current addiction to oil, and adopt clean energy sources. For over a decade, I've been monitoring various new energy experiments, but they have yet to produce commercial scale results. Climate change has now added a new sense of urgency. Our civilisation depends on energy, but we can't allow oil and coal to slowly bake our planet… The third wish is one closer to home. I’ve been living in Sri Lanka for 50 years – and half that time, I’ve been a sad witness to the bitter conflict that divides my adopted country. I dearly wish to see lasting peace established in Sri Lanka as soon as possible. But I’m aware that peace cannot just be wished -- it requires a great deal of hard work, courage and persistence. * * * * * I’m sometimes asked how I would like to be remembered. I’ve had a diverse career as a writer, underwater explorer, space promoter and science populariser. Of all these, I want to be remembered most as a writer – one who entertained readers, and, hopefully, stretched their imagination as well. I find that another English writer -- who, coincidentally, also spent most of his life in the East -- has expressed it very well. So let me end with these words of Rudyard Kipling: If I have given you delight by aught that I have done. Let me lie quiet in that night which shall be yours anon; And for the little, little span the dead are borne in mind, seek not to question other than, the books I leave behind. This is Arthur Clarke, saying Thank You and Goodbye from Colombo! Available on YouTube at: http://thilinaheenatigala.blogspot.com/200...h-birthday.html Quote
AdamSmith Posted March 20, 2008 Author Posted March 20, 2008 R.I.P. Taught me how to think about last and first things. http://www.space.com/news/080319-arthur-clarke-tribute.html Quote
AdamSmith Posted April 16, 2008 Author Posted April 16, 2008 16 December 1917 - 19 March 2008 Postlude... On March 19, 2008, the NASA satellite Swift observed four separate Gamma Ray Bursts, the most powerful explosions in the Universe, each the signature of a massive star reaching the end of its life and exploding. Never before had Swift seen four bursts in one day. "...overhead, without any fuss, the stars were going out." ("The Nine Billion Names of God") http://www.clarkefoundation.org/docs/ACClarke.pdf Quote
AdamSmith Posted July 29, 2008 Author Posted July 29, 2008 Final postscript... http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/07/2...l.ap/index.html Quote
AdamSmith Posted June 28, 2013 Author Posted June 28, 2013 Just came across this vid of Clarke with Cronkite at Apollo 11 launch. wayout 1 Quote
