Comments on: Oh, the humanity http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:35:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Infophile http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18167 Infophile Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:54:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18167 Wait a second... Bad Astronomer = BA Buzz Aldrin = BA A new conspiracy theory is born! Buzz Aldrin is really the Bad Astronomer, and Phil Plait is his secret identity! Wait a second…

Bad Astronomer = BA
Buzz Aldrin = BA

A new conspiracy theory is born! Buzz Aldrin is really the Bad Astronomer, and Phil Plait is his secret identity!

]]> By: Folcrom http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18150 Folcrom Wed, 02 Aug 2006 00:17:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18150 A friend of mine reminded me of one of the conspiracy theories from the 1970s. It wasn't that NASA didn't go to the moon. It was that there was NO actual space race. So when NASA did go to the moon with their first Apollo landing, the Russians also launched a vessel towards the moon and kept it in lunar orbit for the duration of the mission, essentially to act as a rescue ship, should anything go wrong with Apollo. So in this conspiracy, for all their apparent rivalry, the US and Soviets were actually working together! Its fun to watch conspiracies come and go and evolve over time. It gives us something to laugh at. Folcrom. A friend of mine reminded me of one of the conspiracy theories from the 1970s.

It wasn’t that NASA didn’t go to the moon. It was that there was NO actual space race. So when NASA did go to the moon with their first Apollo landing, the Russians also launched a vessel towards the moon and kept it in lunar orbit for the duration of the mission, essentially to act as a rescue ship, should anything go wrong with Apollo.

So in this conspiracy, for all their apparent rivalry, the US and Soviets were actually working together!

Its fun to watch conspiracies come and go and evolve over time.
It gives us something to laugh at.

Folcrom.

]]> By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18151 Irishman Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:56:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18151 Being the Science Advisor for Coast to Coast? (Prestigious affiliation there.) Or Coast to Coast choosing Hoagland? (Dredging the bottom of the barrel.) Being the Science Advisor for Coast to Coast? (Prestigious affiliation there.) Or Coast to Coast choosing Hoagland? (Dredging the bottom of the barrel.)

]]> By: Matt http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18152 Matt Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:49:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18152 Did anyone note from the Coast to Coast web site: "Coast to Coast AM science advisor Richard C. Hoagland ..." I mean, you can't get much lower than that! Did anyone note from the Coast to Coast web site:

“Coast to Coast AM science advisor Richard C. Hoagland …”

I mean, you can’t get much lower than that!

]]> By: ericnh http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18153 ericnh Tue, 01 Aug 2006 18:15:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18153 Glad I missed it too. Coast to Coast is where I first heard of the BA, and thanks to him and the folks at Science Blogs I know longer have the stomach for RCH or C2C (although the Hollow Earth woos already had me turning the show off). Thanks BA. Glad I missed it too. Coast to Coast is where I first heard of the BA, and thanks to him and the folks at Science Blogs I know longer have the stomach for RCH or C2C (although the Hollow Earth woos already had me turning the show off). Thanks BA.

]]> By: Joshua http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18154 Joshua Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:14:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18154 Buzz is a national hero for two reasons: first, for walking on the moon and all that, and second, for punching out a nutty Apollo-denier. Come on, you all wish you could have been there to see it in person. ;) (Heck, I've wished more than a few times that I had the opportunity to do it myself. Both walking on the moon and punching out woos.) Buzz is a national hero for two reasons: first, for walking on the moon and all that, and second, for punching out a nutty Apollo-denier. Come on, you all wish you could have been there to see it in person. ;) (Heck, I’ve wished more than a few times that I had the opportunity to do it myself. Both walking on the moon and punching out woos.)

]]> By: Mark Martin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18156 Mark Martin Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:57:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18156 "Oh, the humanity"? No- It's "Oh! The HUGE MANATEE!!!" “Oh, the humanity”?

No- It’s “Oh! The HUGE MANATEE!!!”

]]> By: Dunc http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18155 Dunc Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:44:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18155 <blockquote>Ah– Buzz is on for the first half hour, and then Hoagland. And, hopefully, ne’er the twain shall meet.</blockquote> Are you kidding? I'd <i>love</i> to see that... POW!

Ah– Buzz is on for the first half hour, and then Hoagland. And, hopefully, ne’er the twain shall meet.

Are you kidding? I’d love to see that… POW!

]]> By: eddie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18157 eddie Tue, 01 Aug 2006 07:16:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18157 OK, BA, since you didn't stay up for the musings of the great RCH, here's a recap: Same old s***, including the fact that Aldrin was just a good soldier, and took his orders not to talk about the "ruins on the moon" seriously. As for everything else Hoagland said, well, just go to his web site for "incontrivertable photographic proof" of everything he said. Dang, I shoulda gone to bed too. OK, BA, since you didn’t stay up for the musings of the great RCH, here’s a recap: Same old s***, including the fact that Aldrin was just a good soldier, and took his orders not to talk about the “ruins on the moon” seriously.

As for everything else Hoagland said, well, just go to his web site for “incontrivertable photographic proof” of everything he said.

Dang, I shoulda gone to bed too.

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18159 The Bad Astronomer Tue, 01 Aug 2006 06:48:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18159 You know what? After listening to a man who walked on the Moon, I have little desire to listen to RCH. I'm signing off and going to bed. :) You know what? After listening to a man who walked on the Moon, I have little desire to listen to RCH. I’m signing off and going to bed. :)

]]> By: eddie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18158 eddie Tue, 01 Aug 2006 06:39:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18158 Phil, Yeah, that was a very nice deflection of BS by Aldrin, so he could continue talk about what we really wanted to hear; his account of the amazing accomplishments of the Apollo program. Nice job, Buzz. You truly are a hero, not just to America, but the world. (Oh yeah, the mention of Bush's space initiative in an "election year" was great, too.) Phil,

Yeah, that was a very nice deflection of BS by Aldrin, so he could continue talk about what we really wanted to hear; his account of the amazing accomplishments of the Apollo program.

Nice job, Buzz. You truly are a hero, not just to America, but the world.

(Oh yeah, the mention of Bush’s space initiative in an “election year” was great, too.)

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18160 The Bad Astronomer Tue, 01 Aug 2006 06:32:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18160 About the UFO claims, Buzz just said this: "It's a little irresponsible of people to bring up subjects that have been explained rather thoroughly, especially in our case..." George brought up astronuat Ed Mitchell, who is something of a UFO proponent. George was talkiong about aliens visiting us, but Buzz (I love this guy) immediately took the reins and turned it into a pretty good description of how big the Galaxy is, and how likely aliens are, but how <i>unlikely</i> it is they are visiting us. I have said precisely this on C2C when I've talked to George as well. About the UFO claims, Buzz just said this: "It’s a little irresponsible of people to bring up subjects that have been explained rather thoroughly, especially in our case…"

George brought up astronuat Ed Mitchell, who is something of a UFO proponent. George was talkiong about aliens visiting us, but Buzz (I love this guy) immediately took the reins and turned it into a pretty good description of how big the Galaxy is, and how likely aliens are, but how unlikely it is they are visiting us. I have said precisely this on C2C when I’ve talked to George as well.

]]> By: eddie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18161 eddie Tue, 01 Aug 2006 06:08:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18161 Yeah, but it'll be interesting to see what RCH takes out of context from the Aldrin interview, won't it? Yeah, but it’ll be interesting to see what RCH takes out of context from the Aldrin interview, won’t it?

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18162 The Bad Astronomer Tue, 01 Aug 2006 06:04:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18162 Ah-- Buzz is on for the first half hour, and <i>then</i> Hoagland. And, hopefully, ne'er the twain shall meet. Ah– Buzz is on for the first half hour, and then Hoagland. And, hopefully, ne’er the twain shall meet.

]]> By: Merovingian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18163 Merovingian Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:57:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18163 An astronaut vs. a guy who likely never stepped foot into a spacesuit? Hilarious. An astronaut vs. a guy who likely never stepped foot into a spacesuit? Hilarious.

]]> By: Folcrom http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18164 Folcrom Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:53:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18164 If there was something tagging along, observing the Apollo spacecraft, it was probably Russion and undisclosed. If there was something tagging along, observing the Apollo spacecraft, it was probably Russion and undisclosed.

]]> By: eddie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18165 eddie Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:45:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18165 Phil, Thanks for the heads-up. As much as I detest RCH misleading folks who aren't up-to-snuff on common sense when it comes to science, I find it fascinating to listen to his nonsense, and what people will actually believe. It's really sad, but entertaining nontheless. Phil,

Thanks for the heads-up. As much as I detest RCH misleading folks who aren’t up-to-snuff on common sense when it comes to science, I find it fascinating to listen to his nonsense, and what people will actually believe.

It’s really sad, but entertaining nontheless.

]]> By: Ick of the East http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-18166 Ick of the East Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:01:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/07/31/oh-the-humanity/#comment-18166 Didn't Buzz once puch out some guy who denied the moon landings? Too bad he can't do that on radio. But I think this might make great radio. Hoagland and his woo woo nonsense have far more to fear than Aldrin. Didn’t Buzz once puch out some guy who denied the moon landings? Too bad he can’t do that on radio.

But I think this might make great radio. Hoagland and his woo woo nonsense have far more to fear than Aldrin.

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