Pale Blue Dot

• From my limited knowledge of space travel since 1994, it seems like Sagan gets much his predictions correct. The area that he really missed was the role that private space travel would play. Much of the discussion revolves around should we as a society spend millions of dollars on space exploration/travel. And though that number is miniscule compared with what we spend in other areas, the answer is a resounding "yes" to Sagan. I agree, I think it's money well spent. However, the whole question mostly goes away when it's a private company spending their own dollars. This twist wasn't even concieved of by Sagan.

• He is ahead of his time in many of the debates of today. Most notably global warming. The ozone layer is a bright spot that he often puts it ahead of global warming in terms of severity, whereas we don't even think of that issue anymore, it was a debate of the past. In addition, he makes the comment, "What happens when smart machines are able to manufacture smarter machines"

• Sagan seems to have a grudge against the Catholic church that gets a bit exhausting to read through. No one would deny that the Church was a disgrace to humanity, Christianity, and science back in the middle ages, and later, but to stew upon this point on a book that is, by it's title "A Vision of the Human Future in Space", seems unwarrented. Furthermore, he seems rightfully gracious of scientists having what turn out to be incorrect views of the cosmos, and yet mocking of the church not having correct scientific views in that same time period. I understand that it's the humility with which each group came after the unknown question, but it comes across as a vendetta with respect to the church, vs the normal scientific process for the rest - a glaring double-standard.