Comments on: Dog blog http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/ 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. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:45:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nigel Depledge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18981 Nigel Depledge Sat, 19 Aug 2006 14:02:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18981 Apostrophe Avenger said: "This is the sort of English up with which I will not put.” (The Churchill anecdote is widespread but may be apocryphal. However, it nicely makes the point of how awkwardly we would write if we never dangled our prepositions.) " Unfortunately, it does not serve as a very good illustration. I believe the story to be apocryphal, because Winnie was a very smart cookie. In "up with which I will not put", the word "up" is not functioning as a preposition, but as a modifying auxiliary to the verb. So, the verb "to put up (with)" has a different meaning from the verb "to put". So, the form "with which I will not put up" is quite acceptable without any dangling prepositions. Dangling prepositions are ugly and they jar on the senses. I find the alternatives significantly more elegant. Apostrophe Avenger said:
“This is the sort of English up with which I will not put.” (The Churchill anecdote is widespread but may be apocryphal. However, it nicely makes the point of how awkwardly we would write if we never dangled our prepositions.) ”

Unfortunately, it does not serve as a very good illustration. I believe the story to be apocryphal, because Winnie was a very smart cookie. In “up with which I will not put”, the word “up” is not functioning as a preposition, but as a modifying auxiliary to the verb. So, the verb “to put up (with)” has a different meaning from the verb “to put”.

So, the form “with which I will not put up” is quite acceptable without any dangling prepositions.

Dangling prepositions are ugly and they jar on the senses. I find the alternatives significantly more elegant.

]]> By: John Powell http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18980 John Powell Mon, 14 Aug 2006 16:02:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18980 I'm not an astronomer, just a science and science fiction junkie. 12 years ago I named my cats Phobos and Deimos. I’m not an astronomer, just a science and science fiction junkie. 12 years ago I named my cats Phobos and Deimos.

]]> By: spacewriter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18979 spacewriter Mon, 14 Aug 2006 16:00:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18979 Wasn't there a song that went something like "I am Erin, hear me swear... " oh, wait... I'm so confused. BA: cute doggie. The smell thing can be fixed with a good bath, you better hope! Or are you shopping around for Doggie Beano? ;) Wasn’t there a song that went something like “I am Erin, hear me swear… ”

oh, wait…

I’m so confused.

BA:

cute doggie. The smell thing can be fixed with a good bath, you better hope!

Or are you shopping around for Doggie Beano?
;)

]]> By: Erin O'Brien http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18978 Erin O'Brien Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:36:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18978 All right. Okay. I admit it. You kids do not want to try this at home. I did and look what happened to me. I grew up to be a foul-mouthed mild-mannered housewife that goes on and gets put on probation her very first time here at Bad Astronomy. (yes, I spent an inordinate amount of time in the principal's office as a kid) I'd like to tell you that I've Found Jesus and am pouting in the corner with my tail between my legs (note use of appropriate cliche for "Dog Blog"), but, sadly, that is not the case. I am eating candy bars and, well, finding ways to swear about it. Don't believe me? Come on over to my place. I don't know anything about Astronomy anyway, except for knowing when to hold out for a shooting star and that magic dust really works. I am Erin. All right. Okay. I admit it. You kids do not want to try this at home. I did and look what happened to me. I grew up to be a foul-mouthed mild-mannered housewife that goes on and gets put on probation her very first time here at Bad Astronomy.

(yes, I spent an inordinate amount of time in the principal’s office as a kid)

I’d like to tell you that I’ve Found Jesus and am pouting in the corner with my tail between my legs (note use of appropriate cliche for “Dog Blog”), but, sadly, that is not the case. I am eating candy bars and, well, finding ways to swear about it. Don’t believe me? Come on over to my place.

I don’t know anything about Astronomy anyway, except for knowing when to hold out for a shooting star and that magic dust really works.

I am Erin.

]]> By: icemith http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18977 icemith Mon, 14 Aug 2006 07:48:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18977 How iOrionic! Ivan. How iOrionic!

Ivan.

]]> By: ThinCritter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18976 ThinCritter Mon, 14 Aug 2006 01:38:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18976 As the mythology say's that Canis Major and Minor are Orions dogs. I guess that makes you ..., Oh never mind. :-) As the mythology say’s that Canis Major and Minor are Orions dogs. I guess that makes you …, Oh never mind. :-)

]]> By: Tim G http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18975 Tim G Sun, 13 Aug 2006 22:32:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18975 If they were my dogs they would be named Turbo and Sparky. If they were my dogs they would be named Turbo and Sparky.

]]> By: Mark Martin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18974 Mark Martin Sun, 13 Aug 2006 21:33:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18974 They are participants in the CPP: Canine Protection Program. They are participants in the CPP: Canine Protection Program.

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18973 The Bad Astronomer Sun, 13 Aug 2006 17:37:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18973 I should point out these are not the dogs' real names. They are pseudonyms to protect their privacy. I should point out these are not the dogs’ real names. They are pseudonyms to protect their privacy.

]]> By: Troy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18972 Troy Sun, 13 Aug 2006 17:04:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18972 I suppose if your dogs are Canis Major and Canis Minor that makes you Orion. In the spirit of Lloyd Bentson vs. Dan Quayle, you're no Orion! It would be more interesting if you got a Capricornus, I've never seen a sea goat before though I suspect it also would smell. I suppose if your dogs are Canis Major and Canis Minor that makes you Orion. In the spirit of Lloyd Bentson vs. Dan Quayle, you’re no Orion! It would be more interesting if you got a Capricornus, I’ve never seen a sea goat before though I suspect it also would smell.

]]> By: icemith http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18971 icemith Sun, 13 Aug 2006 16:19:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18971 Oh, I just remembered, we used to have a budgerigar, and it answered to the name of "Tadpole". Figure that one out. Ivan. Oh, I just remembered, we used to have a budgerigar, and it answered to the name of “Tadpole”. Figure that one out.

Ivan.

]]> By: icemith http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18970 icemith Sun, 13 Aug 2006 16:12:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18970 I can see the Border Collie part, but I'm darned (sorry for the language, - shame...) if I can see any Lab. Unless you are referring to being produced in one. Test tube style. And who am I to complain, as my latest grand daughter was exactly that, and she is the cutest little girl I know. Ivan. I can see the Border Collie part, but I’m darned (sorry for the language, – shame…) if I can see any Lab. Unless you are referring to being produced in one. Test tube style. And who am I to complain, as my latest grand daughter was exactly that, and she is the cutest little girl I know.

Ivan.

]]> By: Kaptain K http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18969 Kaptain K Sun, 13 Aug 2006 15:05:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18969 "I know an astronomer whose cats are named Regulus and Denebola." My brother had a cat that was the only full-tailed cat in a litter of Manxes. So, of course, his name was Denebola. “I know an astronomer whose cats are named Regulus and Denebola.”

My brother had a cat that was the only full-tailed cat in a litter of Manxes. So, of course, his name was Denebola.

]]> By: Mark Martin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18968 Mark Martin Sun, 13 Aug 2006 14:09:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18968 Nigel Depledge Says: "Mark, the trouble with Puppis is: it’s the poop deck of the ship. So, I guess you associate the puppy with poop…" As a matter of fact. I do identify dogs (and cats) with poop. I have two German shepherds and five cats, so if there's one thing I know, it's poop! Anyway, the joke was funnier my way. :) Nigel Depledge Says:

“Mark, the trouble with Puppis is: it’s the poop deck of the ship. So, I guess you associate the puppy with poop…”

As a matter of fact. I do identify dogs (and cats) with poop. I have two German shepherds and five cats, so if there’s one thing I know, it’s poop!

Anyway, the joke was funnier my way. :)

]]> By: Erin O'Brien http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18967 Erin O'Brien Sun, 13 Aug 2006 13:58:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18967 You have just effed up the Balance of the World with too much cute. Hence, I have to do this. Sorry. <b>Bad words deleted by The Bad Astronomer</b> There. Back in balance. Yours in letters, Erin O'Brien <i>From The BA: Sorry Erin, as much as I like you and your writing, this website tries to be marginally (at worst) kid-friendly. I get hits from EDU sites as kids look up astronomy-related info, so I want to keep "bad" words off the site. :-) </i> You have just effed up the Balance of the World with too much cute.

Hence, I have to do this. Sorry.

Bad words deleted by The Bad Astronomer

There. Back in balance.

Yours in letters,

Erin O’Brien

From The BA: Sorry Erin, as much as I like you and your writing, this website tries to be marginally (at worst) kid-friendly. I get hits from EDU sites as kids look up astronomy-related info, so I want to keep “bad” words off the site. :-)

]]> By: Blake Stacey http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18966 Blake Stacey Sun, 13 Aug 2006 13:45:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18966 Off-topic: "<a href="http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=2168" rel="nofollow">Enslave the humans and steal all their cows. <i>All of them!</i></a>" Courtesy <i>Sinfest.</i> Off-topic: “Enslave the humans and steal all their cows. All of them!” Courtesy Sinfest.

]]> By: Apostrophe Avenger http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18965 Apostrophe Avenger Sun, 13 Aug 2006 13:09:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18965 Apostrophe Avenger, here. BA, you dangle as many prepositions as you wish. (Go ahead and split your infinitives, too.) The alleged ‘rule’ against dangling prepositions was invented in the 18th century by early grammarians who had an imperfect understanding of the nature of language in general and English in particular, and the ‘rule’ never really took hold in terms of how the language was used. Prestigious writers had been dangling prepositions before the rule was formulated; they continued to dangle them afterward. As Winston Churchill is supposed to have famously written as a rebuke to an editor who marked one of his dangling prepositions for destruction: “This is the sort of English up with which I will not put.” (The Churchill anecdote is widespread but may be apocryphal. However, it nicely makes the point of how awkwardly we would write if we never dangled our prepositions.) Farewell. I will now return to my hunt for abused apostrophes. An abused apostrophe is something I will not put up with. Apostrophe Avenger, here. BA, you dangle as many prepositions as you wish. (Go ahead and split your infinitives, too.) The alleged ‘rule’ against dangling prepositions was invented in the 18th century by early grammarians who had an imperfect understanding of the nature of language in general and English in particular, and the ‘rule’ never really took hold in terms of how the language was used. Prestigious writers had been dangling prepositions before the rule was formulated; they continued to dangle them afterward. As Winston Churchill is supposed to have famously written as a rebuke to an editor who marked one of his dangling prepositions for destruction: “This is the sort of English up with which I will not put.” (The Churchill anecdote is widespread but may be apocryphal. However, it nicely makes the point of how awkwardly we would write if we never dangled our prepositions.) Farewell. I will now return to my hunt for abused apostrophes. An abused apostrophe is something I will not put up with.

]]> By: Nigel Depledge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18964 Nigel Depledge Sun, 13 Aug 2006 10:31:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18964 Mark, the trouble with Puppis is: it's the poop deck of the ship. So, I guess you associate the puppy with poop... BA, I'd stick to Canis major & minor if I were you. I think that's perfectly good (unless Canis minor were to grow up bigger than Canis major of course). I have a stuffed lion (not real, I hasten to add) I call Felis (from <i>Felis leo</i>, you know?), so why shouldn't you name your canines Canis? But, BA, you ended a sentence with a preposition ("...whom I’m talking about"). You'd better hope Gillianren doesn't read this one, or you'll be in deep trouble...:-) For those of you who don't know, look here: http://www.bautforum.com/showthread.php?t=45420 Mark, the trouble with Puppis is: it’s the poop deck of the ship. So, I guess you associate the puppy with poop…

BA, I’d stick to Canis major & minor if I were you. I think that’s perfectly good (unless Canis minor were to grow up bigger than Canis major of course). I have a stuffed lion (not real, I hasten to add) I call Felis (from Felis leo, you know?), so why shouldn’t you name your canines Canis?

But, BA, you ended a sentence with a preposition (“…whom I’m talking about”). You’d better hope Gillianren doesn’t read this one, or you’ll be in deep trouble…:-)

For those of you who don’t know, look here:
http://www.bautforum.com/showthread.php?t=45420

]]> By: Elyk http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18963 Elyk Sun, 13 Aug 2006 02:28:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18963 XD lmfao! I'm with BB on this one. Hoax picture guys, you've been tricked again! XD lmfao! I’m with BB on this one. Hoax picture guys, you’ve been tricked again!

]]> By: Kasey http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18962 Kasey Sun, 13 Aug 2006 02:16:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18962 SHE IS SO CUTE!! Canis Major and Canis Minor?! That's cute too, but the joke everyone gets! Have you considered this dog to be a spy for that "pseudoscientist"??? Could this DOG be living proof of life on Mars?!? I mean, look at that coat and the little cutness! SHE IS SO CUTE!! Canis Major and Canis Minor?! That’s cute too, but the joke everyone gets!

Have you considered this dog to be a spy for that “pseudoscientist”??? Could this DOG be living proof of life on Mars?!? I mean, look at that coat and the little cutness!

]]> By: eddie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18961 eddie Sun, 13 Aug 2006 02:11:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18961 I'm with you Carniflex, I think "Bad Bitch' is the way to go. But BA would have to make it VERY CLEAR to Mrs. Bad Astronomer that he's talkin' about the dog, wouldn't he? LOL! I’m with you Carniflex, I think “Bad Bitch’ is the way to go.

But BA would have to make it VERY CLEAR to Mrs. Bad Astronomer that he’s talkin’ about the dog, wouldn’t he?

LOL!

]]> By: Max Fagin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18960 Max Fagin Sun, 13 Aug 2006 02:08:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18960 Damon, you deserve to be shot for that pun. BA, of course we get Canis major/minor pun. Who do think reads your page? Damon, you deserve to be shot for that pun.

BA, of course we get Canis major/minor pun. Who do think reads your page?

]]> By: Supernova http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18959 Supernova Sun, 13 Aug 2006 01:09:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18959 Cute pups, both of them. What do you call the cat? <a href="http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations/Leo.html" rel="nofollow">Leo</a>? (I know an astronomer whose cats are named Regulus and Denebola.) Cute pups, both of them. What do you call the cat? Leo? (I know an astronomer whose cats are named Regulus and Denebola.)

]]> By: Wolverine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18958 Wolverine Sun, 13 Aug 2006 01:02:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18958 Awww. :) Awww. :)

]]> By: BB http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-18957 BB Sun, 13 Aug 2006 00:52:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/12/dog-blog/#comment-18957 That picture is clearly a hoax: the shadows are all going in different directions. I don't believe that you have a new puppy. That picture is clearly a hoax: the shadows are all going in different directions. I don’t believe that you have a new puppy.

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