Comments on: SkepDic http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/ 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. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:00:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19564 Irishman Wed, 23 Aug 2006 20:36:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19564 Yes, Triangleman, they are primarily an organization of Space Advocacy. This is done via newsletters and magazine, and via monitoring Congressional activity on space issues, as well as education. They do have some funding for space and technology research, but it is a relatively small component, not the primary goal - space advocacy. Yes, Triangleman, they are primarily an organization of Space Advocacy. This is done via newsletters and magazine, and via monitoring Congressional activity on space issues, as well as education. They do have some funding for space and technology research, but it is a relatively small component, not the primary goal - space advocacy.

]]> By: Stuart http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19565 Stuart Wed, 23 Aug 2006 09:01:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19565 Phil, thanks for increasing the number of RSS entries. I can now just about keep up with you ;-) Phil, thanks for increasing the number of RSS entries. I can now just about keep up with you ;-)

]]> By: Triangleman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19567 Triangleman Wed, 23 Aug 2006 05:34:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19567 "But it does not qualify as a “scam” - their concern is legitimate and their monetary request will be put into programs for addressing that concern, and they are describing the programs on which it will be spent. They’re not lining the pockets of a few executives (and no one there makes fees like execs and public for-profit corporations). " I just looked at the PS's financial statements and it appears that their focus is on education via the distribution of their magazine/newsletters. Not a lot of their funds goes to research grants - of revenue of ~$3,000,000 in 2005 only $152,000 was spent on grants - primarily to SETI, while around $900,000 was related to publication and postage for their magazine. Three of their employees makes >$100,000 a year. If someone wants to donate money to direct research on asteroids there might be more efficient means of doing so. “But it does not qualify as a “scam” - their concern is legitimate and their monetary request will be put into programs for addressing that concern, and they are describing the programs on which it will be spent. They’re not lining the pockets of a few executives (and no one there makes fees like execs and public for-profit corporations). ”

I just looked at the PS’s financial statements and it appears that their focus is on education via the distribution of their magazine/newsletters. Not a lot of their funds goes to research grants - of revenue of ~$3,000,000 in 2005 only $152,000 was spent on grants - primarily to SETI, while around $900,000 was related to publication and postage for their magazine. Three of their employees makes >$100,000 a year. If someone wants to donate money to direct research on asteroids there might be more efficient means of doing so.

]]> By: Triangleman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19566 Triangleman Wed, 23 Aug 2006 05:18:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19566 Whoops, looks like I'm seriously eating crow here. I'm really sorry about calling the PS a scam everyone - I confused them with groups like the Sirius Research Society - a very bad oversight on my part. I'm obviously hanging out at 'crank.net' too much. Really sorry about that. (Actually I'm surprised that there weren't more flames about my post.) Whoops, looks like I’m seriously eating crow here.

I’m really sorry about calling the PS a scam everyone - I confused them with groups like the Sirius Research Society - a very bad oversight on my part. I’m obviously hanging out at ‘crank.net’ too much.

Really sorry about that. (Actually I’m surprised that there weren’t more flames about my post.)

]]> By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19584 Irishman Tue, 22 Aug 2006 23:44:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19584 From what you posted, the contest appears to be merely to tag the asteroid for tracking, not any actually moving it. The value of that can be debated. From what you posted, the contest appears to be merely to tag the asteroid for tracking, not any actually moving it. The value of that can be debated.

]]> By: Will. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19583 Will. Tue, 22 Aug 2006 22:31:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19583 All: Thanks for the insights. I joined the PS principally for its championing of the exploration of space and because they seem to support my own bias to return people to the space part of the equation. But, if we don't survive long enough to even begin our travels (2029 is the supposed close encounter with Apophis, and then if it misses, I guess the next time around might be closer), then mankind in space is a moot point. I didn't think it was a scam; I trust the Society to not pull a bait and switch. I just wasn't sure how realistic is a contest to devise a method to redirect an object which has only the potential to wipe out the Earth. And I am hoping to live long enough see manned space missions begin for real (while realizing the enormous problems they pose). So, if the Apophis threat isn't really dire, but only potentially dire, then fragmenting a very limited budget didn't seem like a good idea. All:
Thanks for the insights. I joined the PS principally for its championing of the exploration of space and because they seem to support my own bias to return people to the space part of the equation. But, if we don’t survive long enough to even begin our travels (2029 is the supposed close encounter with Apophis, and then if it misses, I guess the next time around might be closer), then mankind in space is a moot point. I didn’t think it was a scam; I trust the Society to not pull a bait and switch. I just wasn’t sure how realistic is a contest to devise a method to redirect an object which has only the potential to wipe out the Earth. And I am hoping to live long enough see manned space missions begin for real (while realizing the enormous problems they pose). So, if the Apophis threat isn’t really dire, but only potentially dire, then fragmenting a very limited budget didn’t seem like a good idea.

]]> By: Aerik http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19582 Aerik Tue, 22 Aug 2006 21:48:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/21/skepdic/#comment-19582 Gotta love scifi titles with "hammer" in them, eh Gary? Gotta love scifi titles with “hammer” in them, eh Gary?

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