Pluto and Civil Rights Act of 1964

The fact that image matters to them is underlined by their opening chapter: "Why Pluto Matters." The decision that Pluto was not a planet was a story that the public at large cared about. It seemed to many to be unfair and arbitrary. Scientists probably might find that silly. There is a good reason to not list it as a planet. It isn't really a matter of life or death either way. But, it did matter and the negative response suggests a disconnect. The friendly astronomer, Neil deGrasse Tyson, is not mentioned. His The Pluto Files and presence on various shows like Stephen Colbert should be a model for them, so that's disappointing.

I wrote this regarding a book on scientific illiteracy, earlier noting that the Pluto book itself was good. The controversy is discussed here too and the fact it is now merely a "dwarf planet" (at least officially) is a small measure of how things change. It might not be the most important significant thing that did in the last decade or so, but heck, Colbert was right (Tyson is a repeat guest on his show and Colbert has a cameo in the Nova special -- just saw the DVD -- based on Tyson's book) that many of us probably thinks what the planets are is a pretty certain thing.

Also watched Parkland, a ensemble cast film concerning the reactions to JFK being shot, that being the hospital that both JFK and his killer (yeah, he was) were unsuccessfully treated as they died on the table. The FBI, secret service, the guy who took the famous film and Oswald's brother (who knew?) had their own basic subplots along with those who treated the two gunshot victims.  It was no classic, but (is that this blog's favorite word?) a nice little film -- under 100 minutes. Good to watch after missing it when it is in the theaters. People still go there, right?

Talking about ensemble casts, the LBJ play (All the Way) itself have one, even if LBJ (exaggerating things some) has a big one as well. It is largely about the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, so read a new book on the subject: An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, And The Battle For The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Todd S. Purdum (married to Dee Dee Myers -- remember her?) is a senior writer at Politico, so this sort of thing is ideal for him.  The title reminds us that it is not merely the LBJ Civil Right Act or something.  Will this set in at some point when the term "Obamacare" (the "care" part is misleading too, since this is not Medicare for All etc., but at least a party label would be semi-truthful)  is brought up? Yeah, term still rankles.

Anyway, the book is split between sections -- executive (ultimately written as things develop from 1963-64, this is the Kennedy's section), the House (key player here is a little known Republican) and the Senate (which seems a bit long, but guess that works with the filibuster and all). There are various vignettes of the players involved, including MLK and a lesser known black lobbyist, Clarence Mitchell Jr.  Overall, it provides what looks like a pretty comprehensive three hundred or so page volume on the issue (Henry Louis Gate Jr. speaks of "nearly every angle" in his blurb) though didn't quite get a full sense of the "anti" side.

So, there's two books, two DVDs and a play for ya.  As an additional comment, the civil rights book doesn't have a copy of the actual legislation as an appendix or something.  Why not?