Comments on: Penn & Teller, the Moon Hoax, and Me (Part I) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/ 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, 24 Nov 2009 08:22:56 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: NeuroLogica Blog » The Well-Insulated Belief http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/comment-page-2/#comment-29006 NeuroLogica Blog » The Well-Insulated Belief Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:54:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/#comment-29006 [...] excellent recent example of this was heard on the Penn radio show when moon hoax conspiracy theorist Joe Rogan was debating Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer. Phil [...] [...] excellent recent example of this was heard on the Penn radio show when moon hoax conspiracy theorist Joe Rogan was debating Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer. Phil [...]

]]> By: The Best Science Blog 2007 Saga (1 of 3) « Maurizio - Omnologos http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/comment-page-2/#comment-29005 The Best Science Blog 2007 Saga (1 of 3) « Maurizio - Omnologos Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:12:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/#comment-29005 [...] The Bad Astronomy Blog BA is a great blog, especially if you like astronomy. It comes out of a great website (“Bad Astronomy” of course) that has been pointing out for years the scientific fallacies of public astronomical depictions, including in the media, and especially in the movies (silly sounds in the vacuum of space and all that). Of course there is also much to learn, mostly in the form of ever-more-spectacular astronomical pictures, but there are also extraordinarily good posts on the absurd attempts by certain astrologers, fear-mongerers and deluded “religious” people to scientifically demonstrate their craft or beliefs. (Plait gets all my envy when he talks about his friendship with James Randi and Penn Jillette). [...] [...] The Bad Astronomy Blog BA is a great blog, especially if you like astronomy. It comes out of a great website (“Bad Astronomy” of course) that has been pointing out for years the scientific fallacies of public astronomical depictions, including in the media, and especially in the movies (silly sounds in the vacuum of space and all that). Of course there is also much to learn, mostly in the form of ever-more-spectacular astronomical pictures, but there are also extraordinarily good posts on the absurd attempts by certain astrologers, fear-mongerers and deluded “religious” people to scientifically demonstrate their craft or beliefs. (Plait gets all my envy when he talks about his friendship with James Randi and Penn Jillette). [...]

]]> By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/comment-page-2/#comment-29004 Irishman Thu, 08 Feb 2007 21:44:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/#comment-29004 Much of Rene's problem is his assumption that since <i>he</i> can't figure out how some technological challenge could be overcome, the Moon Landings must have been hoaxed. Nevermind that he often misunderstands the nature of the problem and doesn't allow that thousands of trained engineers working for a decade can't be more innovative than him. The glove box is a typical example. He demonstrates the problem by making a cheap vacuum box and uses commercial rubber gloves to demonstrate the ballooning affect on the gloves. Well, yeah, that's real. But then he stops thinking critically and just jumps to "it couldn't be done". But the engineers working at NASA and contractors didn't stop thinking creatively, they identified the problem and <i>then</i> started working on solutions. Solutions such as constant volume joints and pressure restraint layers to reduce the effect of ballooning. Using the lowest pressure differential they could work out. Etc. Rene just gives up at identifying the first problem. Much of Rene’s problem is his assumption that since he can’t figure out how some technological challenge could be overcome, the Moon Landings must have been hoaxed. Nevermind that he often misunderstands the nature of the problem and doesn’t allow that thousands of trained engineers working for a decade can’t be more innovative than him.

The glove box is a typical example. He demonstrates the problem by making a cheap vacuum box and uses commercial rubber gloves to demonstrate the ballooning affect on the gloves. Well, yeah, that’s real. But then he stops thinking critically and just jumps to “it couldn’t be done”. But the engineers working at NASA and contractors didn’t stop thinking creatively, they identified the problem and then started working on solutions. Solutions such as constant volume joints and pressure restraint layers to reduce the effect of ballooning. Using the lowest pressure differential they could work out. Etc. Rene just gives up at identifying the first problem.

]]> By: Wilson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/comment-page-2/#comment-29003 Wilson Wed, 07 Feb 2007 04:17:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/#comment-29003 Well, I think I know *now* what part II is about. Man, I envy you... Well, I think I know *now* what part II is about. Man, I envy you…

]]> By: Stuart http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/comment-page-2/#comment-29002 Stuart Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:53:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/#comment-29002 For some reason, I got the impression that the prop guy was drilling a hole in the bible to use it as a stand for the flag that kept falling down... For some reason, I got the impression that the prop guy was drilling a hole in the bible to use it as a stand for the flag that kept falling down…

]]> By: Adam http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/comment-page-2/#comment-29001 Adam Sun, 04 Feb 2007 08:28:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/#comment-29001 Hi Phil Penn & Teller were very nice to Rene, gave him enough rope and he hung himself as surely as if they'd stuck him on a gallows - what a kook! Religion needs bucketloads of scepticism too - the Bible really is full of holes - but I really didn't get the connection to the Moon Landing Hoax. Would be nice to see them do a BullSh*t episode on peddlers of Apocalyptic prophecies and their conspicuous successes (or lack there of.) Hi Phil

Penn & Teller were very nice to Rene, gave him enough rope and he hung himself as surely as if they’d stuck him on a gallows – what a kook!

Religion needs bucketloads of scepticism too – the Bible really is full of holes – but I really didn’t get the connection to the Moon Landing Hoax. Would be nice to see them do a BullSh*t episode on peddlers of Apocalyptic prophecies and their conspicuous successes (or lack there of.)

]]> By: Teapot http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/comment-page-2/#comment-29000 Teapot Sat, 03 Feb 2007 19:02:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/01/penn-teller-the-moon-hoax-and-me-part-i/#comment-29000 Hmm, I had seen this episode back when they had almost all of them on Google video (I think they've been removed) and didn't make the connection that the BA was the guy who could stand a really long time. Hmm, I had seen this episode back when they had almost all of them on Google video (I think they’ve been removed) and didn’t make the connection that the BA was the guy who could stand a really long time.

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