Comments on: Spaced out http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/ 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 19:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: spacewriter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20473 spacewriter Fri, 15 Sep 2006 01:22:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20473 Actually Phil, some of us drink good vintages of fine reds... ;) Actually Phil, some of us drink good vintages of fine reds…
;)

]]> By: gopher65 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20474 gopher65 Fri, 15 Sep 2006 00:17:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20474 I would look on spiking a punch bowl as malicious as well. As for stuff being threated comically in media, a recent episode of Stargate Atlantis was a comic episode about a man who drugged people into thinking he was awesome. Including his 6 (7?) wives, one of whom he admits absolutely hated him before he drugged her. (I'm not making that up:P, the episode was called "Irresistible" and aired a few months ago) I'm sure the writers didn't consider that they were writing rape scenes. It just honestly never occurred to them. They are just stupid, that's all. I would look on spiking a punch bowl as malicious as well. As for stuff being threated comically in media, a recent episode of Stargate Atlantis was a comic episode about a man who drugged people into thinking he was awesome. Including his 6 (7?) wives, one of whom he admits absolutely hated him before he drugged her. (I’m not making that up:P, the episode was called “Irresistible” and aired a few months ago)

I’m sure the writers didn’t consider that they were writing rape scenes. It just honestly never occurred to them. They are just stupid, that’s all.

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20475 The Bad Astronomer Thu, 14 Sep 2006 22:12:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20475 Gopher, alcohol is far more of a posion than THC, and spiking a punchbowl is treated comically in many, many movies. Reader, that paragraph was done in a joking tone. I purposely didn't come down one way or the other in that paragraph, or the entire post. Gopher, alcohol is far more of a posion than THC, and spiking a punchbowl is treated comically in many, many movies. Reader, that paragraph was done in a joking tone. I purposely didn’t come down one way or the other in that paragraph, or the entire post.

]]> By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20476 Irishman Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:44:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20476 Oh come on, gopher65, marijuana isn't cyanide. Look, I'm of a very strict mind on malicious intent. I happen to think restaurant workers who spit in customers' food should be prosecuted for assault. But attempted murder? No, for it to be attempted murder there has to be intent to <i>kill</i>. Marijuana isn't exactly the best substance to validate that accusation. I think 10 years in prison is probably a bit much. I'm thinking something along the lines of probation and ~100 hrs community service, maybe something to do with drug addicts. Or maybe scraping old gum off sidewalks. With a toothpick. Oh come on, gopher65, marijuana isn’t cyanide.

Look, I’m of a very strict mind on malicious intent. I happen to think restaurant workers who spit in customers’ food should be prosecuted for assault. But attempted murder? No, for it to be attempted murder there has to be intent to kill. Marijuana isn’t exactly the best substance to validate that accusation.

I think 10 years in prison is probably a bit much. I’m thinking something along the lines of probation and ~100 hrs community service, maybe something to do with drug addicts. Or maybe scraping old gum off sidewalks. With a toothpick.

]]> By: Gary Ansorge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20477 Gary Ansorge Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:41:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20477 Chip,,,,dough has a shelf life? You mean, it's not supposed to be green and furry? Dang, and I thought that was just the bud,,, GAry 7 Chip,,,,dough has a shelf life? You mean, it’s not supposed to be green and furry?
Dang, and I thought that was just the bud,,,

GAry 7

]]> By: gopher65 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20478 gopher65 Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:19:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20478 Personally, I was thinking that they should be charged with attempted murder. After all, they purposefully tricked people into injecting a poison. *shurgs* Personally, I was thinking that they should be charged with attempted murder. After all, they purposefully tricked people into injecting a poison.

*shurgs*

]]> By: Reader http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20479 Reader Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:59:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20479 Let me get this straight, Phil ... the most criticism you can offer against someone who gave illegal mind altering drugs to people without telling them - is that this is "uncool" ? I hope there aren't any parents reading this. Let me get this straight, Phil … the most criticism you can offer against someone who gave illegal mind altering drugs to people without telling them – is that this is “uncool” ? I hope there aren’t any parents reading this.

]]> By: George http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20481 George Wed, 13 Sep 2006 21:54:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20481 A nit but maybe important enough.... They worded it as..."A UC Berkeley astrophysics student ...". Astrophysics is just shy of the acme of the sciences. The public regards astrophysicists synonymously with rocket scientists. If the word "astrophysicist" was easier to say, the "rocket scientists" phrase would leave the planet. Any misbehavior by these folks is newsworthy, apparently. FWIW, some of the ones I knew from high school who made it to the Ivy league had considerable dance time with Mary Jane. So, I doubt many are too surprised. [Though none were girls, admittedly.] But, what do I know, I ain't no [choose one]. :) A nit but maybe important enough…. They worded it as…”A UC Berkeley astrophysics student …”.

Astrophysics is just shy of the acme of the sciences. The public regards astrophysicists synonymously with rocket scientists. If the word “astrophysicist” was easier to say, the “rocket scientists” phrase would leave the planet.

Any misbehavior by these folks is newsworthy, apparently. FWIW, some of the ones I knew from high school who made it to the Ivy league had considerable dance time with Mary Jane. So, I doubt many are too surprised. [Though none were girls, admittedly.]

But, what do I know, I ain’t no [choose one]. :)

]]> By: david Fairweather http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20480 david Fairweather Wed, 13 Sep 2006 21:53:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20480 all i remember about talking in bars the conversation was usually pretty low brow. But i heard stories like this before on the TLC they had story like this plus when i told it work she told a story about eating cookies her son was baking and took one of the largest which was laced. all i remember about talking in bars the conversation was usually pretty low brow. But i heard stories like this before on the TLC they had story like this plus when i told it work she told a story about eating cookies her son was baking and took one of the largest which was laced.

]]> By: aiabx http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20482 aiabx Wed, 13 Sep 2006 21:03:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20482 Sitting in bars with a beer or two shovelling the BS is a good way to come up with new and original ideas. All mine have turned out to be stupid when viewed soberly, but a smarter scientist may be able to take drunken bonehead ideas and extract a useful outside-the-box nugget. Sitting in bars with a beer or two shovelling the BS is a good way to come up with new and original ideas. All mine have turned out to be stupid when viewed soberly, but a smarter scientist may be able to take drunken bonehead ideas and extract a useful outside-the-box nugget.

]]> By: BMurray http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20486 BMurray Wed, 13 Sep 2006 18:11:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20486 Sorry, I should not have said "predates drug use" obviously. :D I meant that the drug-culture usage of the term is more recent than the origins. Sorry, I should not have said “predates drug use” obviously. :D I meant that the drug-culture usage of the term is more recent than the origins.

]]> By: BMurray http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20485 BMurray Wed, 13 Sep 2006 18:10:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20485 "Bogart" predates drug use, initially referring to casually removing the cigarette from ones mouth and finding it unexpectedly stuck on dried saliva (note Bogart's ability to talk with a live cigarette in his mouth). The fingers, instead of removing the cigarette, slide down the cigarette and burn on the lit end, completing the "bogart" maneuver. This has, of course, evolved somewhat since inception. “Bogart” predates drug use, initially referring to casually removing the cigarette from ones mouth and finding it unexpectedly stuck on dried saliva (note Bogart’s ability to talk with a live cigarette in his mouth). The fingers, instead of removing the cigarette, slide down the cigarette and burn on the lit end, completing the “bogart” maneuver.

This has, of course, evolved somewhat since inception.

]]> By: Aerimus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20484 Aerimus Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:46:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20484 Back in high school, I subscribed to Scientific American. I remember that anytime I came across some midboggling article, I'd think "where in the heck do they get these crazy ideas?" Then I'd flip to the back cover, which 99% of the time was an add for absolut vodka. Question answered... Back in high school, I subscribed to Scientific American. I remember that anytime I came across some midboggling article, I’d think “where in the heck do they get these crazy ideas?” Then I’d flip to the back cover, which 99% of the time was an add for absolut vodka. Question answered…

]]> By: Max Fagin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20483 Max Fagin Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:23:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20483 Of course astronomers sometimes dance with the blue monkey. Ok, (Puff) how about this. . . Let's take the slope of a line. . . at a single point! WOAH!!! Calculus!!!! Of course astronomers sometimes dance with the blue monkey.

Ok, (Puff) how about this. . .

Let’s take the slope of a line. . . at a single point!

WOAH!!! Calculus!!!!

]]> By: Pandabear http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20488 Pandabear Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:56:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20488 Darn.. my mistake.. didn't hear about it yet and it turned out to be an old article Darn.. my mistake.. didn’t hear about it yet and it turned out to be an old article

]]> By: Pandabear http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20487 Pandabear Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:53:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20487 You'll probably post about it later if you find it important enough, but the IAU appears to have decided to rename Pluto to something else... http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn10028-pluto-added-to-official-minor-planet-list.html wasn't simply being demoted not enough? You’ll probably post about it later if you find it important enough, but
the IAU appears to have decided to rename Pluto to something else…
http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn10028-pluto-added-to-official-minor-planet-list.html
wasn’t simply being demoted not enough?

]]> By: Joshua http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20489 Joshua Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:52:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20489 Jess, Everyone has a different reaction to intoxicants. That's why we can distinguish between "mean drunks" and "friendly drunks" and "girls gone wild". In any case, I don't think anyone is suggesting that booze makes you smarter. I'd suspect that the vast amount of scientific work that gets done over a brew has more to do with the informal bar setting rather than the beverage of choice of the participants. Jess,

Everyone has a different reaction to intoxicants. That’s why we can distinguish between “mean drunks” and “friendly drunks” and “girls gone wild”.

In any case, I don’t think anyone is suggesting that booze makes you smarter. I’d suspect that the vast amount of scientific work that gets done over a brew has more to do with the informal bar setting rather than the beverage of choice of the participants.

]]> By: Blake Stacey http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20490 Blake Stacey Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:20:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20490 @RussianBlue: Francis Crick <a href="http://www.mayanmajix.com/art1699.html" rel="nofollow">may have been experimenting with LSD</a> when he and Watson were figuring out the double helix. @RussianBlue:

Francis Crick may have been experimenting with LSD when he and Watson were figuring out the double helix.

]]> By: VisionEngineer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20491 VisionEngineer Wed, 13 Sep 2006 15:13:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20491 I'm wondering whether the astronomical community would consider it sacrilege or creative to make a bong out of a telescope? I’m wondering whether the astronomical community would consider it sacrilege or creative to make a bong out of a telescope?

]]> By: A Ler…-- Rastos de Luz http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20492 A Ler…-- Rastos de Luz Wed, 13 Sep 2006 15:04:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20492 [...] “Spaced Out“. Uma história curiosa no Bad Astronomy, que mostra para exemplificar como por vezes surgem as novidades em Astronomia; [...] [...] “Spaced Out“. Uma história curiosa no Bad Astronomy, que mostra para exemplificar como por vezes surgem as novidades em Astronomia; [...]

]]> By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20494 Irishman Wed, 13 Sep 2006 14:53:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20494 squawky said: >We need to start having conferences with no scheduled talks, just coffee breaks. Welcome to the "Unconference". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference squawky said:
>We need to start having conferences with no scheduled talks, just coffee breaks.

Welcome to the “Unconference”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference

]]> By: jess tauber http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20493 jess tauber Wed, 13 Sep 2006 14:46:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20493 The one Canadian astronomer I ever knew (at BERKELEY no less..!) back in the late '80s (and I can't find mention of him now anywhere on the WWW) if anything got less creative with a few pitchers in him. He told me in no uncertain (or printable) terms that colliding black holes weren't worth modeling because it could never happen- of course a couple of years later the modeling showed up on the cover of Science or Nature (I forget which). I hope not everyone is like this. Jess Tauber The one Canadian astronomer I ever knew (at BERKELEY no less..!) back in the late ’80s (and I can’t find mention of him now anywhere on the WWW) if anything got less creative with a few pitchers in him. He told me in no uncertain (or printable) terms that colliding black holes weren’t worth modeling because it could never happen- of course a couple of years later the modeling showed up on the cover of Science or Nature (I forget which). I hope not everyone is like this.

Jess Tauber

]]> By: aiabx http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20461 aiabx Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:36:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20461 Anecdotal evidence: My personal experience is that astronomers and physicists tend to stick with traditional central nervous system depressants. I'm a beer and scotch-fueled astronomer. Most of my university education took place in bars, and since this is Canada, doughnut shops. Anecdotal evidence: My personal experience is that astronomers and physicists tend to stick with traditional central nervous system depressants. I’m a beer and scotch-fueled astronomer. Most of my university education took place in bars, and since this is Canada, doughnut shops.

]]> By: squawky http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20462 squawky Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:33:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20462 Well, now that the secret's out :) -- I think I buy more beer during a 5 day conference than I normally do in a couple of months at home (nevermind the occasional kegs at the poster sessions). But that's where the science is...in the break rooms over coffee, over lunch, over a pitcher at the bar, those sleep-deprived conversations on the way to the airport; everywhere but in the sessions. We need to start having conferences with no scheduled talks, just coffee breaks. Can't speak for any other mind-altering substances, but I would not be surprised by that, either. They just don't advertise those parties on the conference message boards :). Well, now that the secret’s out :) — I think I buy more beer during a 5 day conference than I normally do in a couple of months at home (nevermind the occasional kegs at the poster sessions). But that’s where the science is…in the break rooms over coffee, over lunch, over a pitcher at the bar, those sleep-deprived conversations on the way to the airport; everywhere but in the sessions.

We need to start having conferences with no scheduled talks, just coffee breaks.

Can’t speak for any other mind-altering substances, but I would not be surprised by that, either. They just don’t advertise those parties on the conference message boards :) .

]]> By: Lunatik http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/comment-page-1/#comment-20463 Lunatik Wed, 13 Sep 2006 12:22:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/12/spaced-out/#comment-20463 how else to open up the mind to the many possible paths? Read Dune by F. Herbert with open mind...Melange IS a mind altering substance...as is anything a person eats, drinks, or inhales. Lunatik how else to open up the mind to the many possible paths?

Read Dune by F. Herbert with open mind…Melange IS a mind altering substance…as is anything a person eats, drinks, or inhales.

Lunatik

]]>