Comments on: Trick or geek http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/ 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 21:59:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: ioresult http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-224200 ioresult Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:51:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-224200 Thanks for a great idea! Since I first saw the puking pumpkin that I wanted to try it, and it's finally done! http://feliscogito.blogspot.com/2009/11/halloween.html Thanks for a great idea! Since I first saw the puking pumpkin that I wanted to try it, and it’s finally done!
http://feliscogito.blogspot.com/2009/11/halloween.html

]]> By: Trick or treat | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-130437 Trick or treat | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:35:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-130437 [...] That was pretty hard to make, though not as hard as last year’s! [...] [...] That was pretty hard to make, though not as hard as last year’s! [...]

]]> By: Expumpkinate! | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-128632 Expumpkinate! | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:12:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-128632 [...] Man, this is even better than mine last year! [...] [...] Man, this is even better than mine last year! [...]

]]> By: Christa http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53911 Christa Sun, 25 Nov 2007 06:39:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53911 Putting a recording of "Exterminate!!" along with the pumpkin would be awesome - sounds like the kind of thing my friends and I would try - they have some short clips from the series on the BBC website - which my friends and I found after watching "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" and decided it would be fun to use the clip of "Are you my mummy?" to call our friend (she was really freaked out, and we are still using that line to creep her out, more than a month later, much to her chagrin) - great fun when you run out of things to do that don't include going out and getting drunk at frat parties. Putting a recording of “Exterminate!!” along with the pumpkin would be awesome – sounds like the kind of thing my friends and I would try – they have some short clips from the series on the BBC website – which my friends and I found after watching “The Empty Child” and “The Doctor Dances” and decided it would be fun to use the clip of “Are you my mummy?” to call our friend (she was really freaked out, and we are still using that line to creep her out, more than a month later, much to her chagrin) – great fun when you run out of things to do that don’t include going out and getting drunk at frat parties.

]]> By: StevoR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53910 StevoR Sun, 04 Nov 2007 12:31:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53910 CORRECTED form above : For the record too : I support the proper use of the death penalty to be applied to the most heinous of crimes and worst of criminals and when there is no doubt. For example all the following, I believe deserve the death penalty : * Martin Bryant ( Aussie serial-murderer of 35 people at Port Arthur) * Mass-murderers & aggravated murderers generally * The nastiest rapists, all paedophiles, * Osama bin Laden & other Al Quaida terrorists responsible for mass murder atrocities incl. the atatcks of 2001 Sept. 11th. *Saddam Hussein for murdereeing somany of his own people -and other tyrants such as Zimbabawe's Robert Mugabe & the Chinese Communists. * George Bush & his fellow war-criminal neocon-fascists for their illegal and murderous invasion of a nation that posed them no harm on false pretences with tens if not hundreds of thousands of innocent deaths. Nowe to another traditional holiday y'may not have in Yankland : Guy Fawkes day : "Remember, remember the 5th of November, Gunpowder, treason & plot!" & the only Guy (quite literally!) ever to enter parlt. with honest intentions! (ie. blowing the place up!) ;-) ------- Note : Yes that's a joke for the humour challnged. No, tempting as it may sometimes seem, I don't think violence is the answer to any of our political problems. CORRECTED form above :

For the record too : I support the proper use of the death penalty to be applied to the most heinous of crimes and worst of criminals and when there is no doubt.

For example all the following, I believe deserve the death penalty :

* Martin Bryant ( Aussie serial-murderer of 35 people at Port Arthur)
* Mass-murderers & aggravated murderers generally
* The nastiest rapists, all paedophiles,
* Osama bin Laden & other Al Quaida terrorists responsible for mass murder atrocities incl. the atatcks of 2001 Sept. 11th.
*Saddam Hussein for murdereeing somany of his own people -and other tyrants such as Zimbabawe’s Robert Mugabe & the Chinese Communists.
* George Bush & his fellow war-criminal neocon-fascists for their illegal and murderous invasion of a nation that posed them no harm on false pretences with tens if not hundreds of thousands of innocent deaths.

Nowe to another traditional holiday y’may not have in Yankland : Guy Fawkes day :

“Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason & plot!”

& the only Guy (quite literally!) ever to enter parlt. with honest intentions! (ie. blowing the place up!) ;-)

——-

Note : Yes that’s a joke for the humour challnged. No, tempting as it may sometimes seem, I don’t think violence is the answer to any of our political problems.

]]> By: StevoR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53909 StevoR Sun, 04 Nov 2007 12:21:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53909 Excellent! Great job BA, Mrs BA & the Lil' BA ... GRE-AAATE JOB! ;-) ------ I took the vomit for vomiting blood .. a crook Jack-o'-Lantern with ebola euthanasied maybe? Death apparently causes all sorts of unpleasant things toccur vomiting and much worse. Lets just say various sphinceters losen with ceasation of life - apparently execution by hanging (perhaps with gravity FXts ) gets really messy in a very smelly way. & electric chair executions cause the ccondemned's eyes to boil in the sockets & flames to come out their heads. Not that anybody wanted to know but ..well someone asked didn't they? For tehrecord too : Isupport teh proper use ofthedeath penalty to be applied tothemost heinous of crimes and criminals when there is no doubt eg. Martin Bryant (POrt Arthur Aussie serial-murderer), mass-murderers, the nastiest rapists, all paedophiles, aggravated murderers, Osama bin Lafden & .. George Bush & his fellow war-criminal neocon-fascists. Excellent!

Great job BA, Mrs BA & the Lil’ BA … GRE-AAATE JOB! ;-)

——
I took the vomit for vomiting blood .. a crook Jack-o’-Lantern with ebola euthanasied maybe?

Death apparently causes all sorts of unpleasant things toccur vomiting and much worse. Lets just say various sphinceters losen with ceasation of life – apparently execution by hanging (perhaps with gravity FXts ) gets really messy in a very smelly way.

& electric chair executions cause the ccondemned’s eyes to boil in the sockets & flames to come out their heads.

Not that anybody wanted to know but ..well someone asked didn’t they?

For tehrecord too : Isupport teh proper use ofthedeath penalty to be applied tothemost heinous of crimes and criminals when there is no doubt eg. Martin Bryant (POrt Arthur Aussie serial-murderer), mass-murderers, the nastiest rapists, all paedophiles, aggravated murderers, Osama bin Lafden & .. George Bush & his fellow war-criminal neocon-fascists.

]]> By: Adrian Zaharia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53908 Adrian Zaharia Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:04:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53908 Exterminate! Exteeeeer--min--aaaate! Exterminate! Exteeeeer–min–aaaate!

]]> By: Rose http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53907 Rose Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:04:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53907 *squee* Fantastic! *squee*

Fantastic!

]]> By: Christine Pulliam http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53906 Christine Pulliam Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:30:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53906 Wow, Phil, that's awesome! I bow to the master. :-) Wow, Phil, that’s awesome! I bow to the master. :-)

]]> By: alfaniner http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53905 alfaniner Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:35:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53905 Have you heard "Doctoring the Tardis" by KLF and the Timelords? Seems like it would be a great one for a Halloween soundtrack. It's a combination of the Dr. Who theme and Rock & Roll Part II (I think -- maybe it's called "Hey"). Have you heard “Doctoring the Tardis” by KLF and the Timelords? Seems like it would be a great one for a Halloween soundtrack. It’s a combination of the Dr. Who theme and Rock & Roll Part II (I think — maybe it’s called “Hey”).

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53903 The Bad Astronomer Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:33:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53903 Cleon, that's AWESOME. I hadn't thought about making an actual Dalek. The technique isn't that hard in principle. I drew myself a Dalek on paper, then taped it to the pumpkin. I used an Exacto knife very lightly to cut the outline, making sure I left space for the guns and the eye. I also cut an outline of the square frame. I removed all the rind from the areas you see as being light-colored, and left it where it's dark. You can scrape away a little bit to leave the light area a bit darker, or you can scrape deeper to make it brighter. The pumpkin was kindof thick, so I reached inside with a wooden spoon and thinned the whole panel from behind, which helped. Then I cut the flame from the gun and the illuminated part of the eyestalk all the way through the rind and pulp to make sure it was brighter than the rest. I got some of these ideas from examining other pumpkins online. It wasn't hard to figure out. I'd never done anything this complicated before, and it took about an hour. Cleon, that’s AWESOME. I hadn’t thought about making an actual Dalek.

The technique isn’t that hard in principle. I drew myself a Dalek on paper, then taped it to the pumpkin. I used an Exacto knife very lightly to cut the outline, making sure I left space for the guns and the eye. I also cut an outline of the square frame. I removed all the rind from the areas you see as being light-colored, and left it where it’s dark. You can scrape away a little bit to leave the light area a bit darker, or you can scrape deeper to make it brighter.

The pumpkin was kindof thick, so I reached inside with a wooden spoon and thinned the whole panel from behind, which helped.

Then I cut the flame from the gun and the illuminated part of the eyestalk all the way through the rind and pulp to make sure it was brighter than the rest.

I got some of these ideas from examining other pumpkins online. It wasn’t hard to figure out. I’d never done anything this complicated before, and it took about an hour.

]]> By: Daniel http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53904 Daniel Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:21:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53904 This one did it for me. I think I will try it next year. http://www.militantplatypus.com/download/blogimages/lgpics/deathstarpumpkin.jpg This one did it for me. I think I will try it next year.

http://www.militantplatypus.com/download/blogimages/lgpics/deathstarpumpkin.jpg

]]> By: Ken B http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53902 Ken B Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:41:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53902 I remember one snowman that Calvin started to make. He and Hobbes rolled a huge snowball, taller than himself. Then, out of breath, Calvin says something along the lines of "okay, there's the first toe". For our Jack-o-Lanterns: http://www.hvcomputer.com/temp/dsc01661.jpg http://www.hvcomputer.com/temp/dsc01662.jpg I remember one snowman that Calvin started to make. He and Hobbes rolled a huge snowball, taller than himself. Then, out of breath, Calvin says something along the lines of “okay, there’s the first toe”.

For our Jack-o-Lanterns:

http://www.hvcomputer.com/temp/dsc01661.jpg
http://www.hvcomputer.com/temp/dsc01662.jpg

]]> By: Cleon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53901 Cleon Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:35:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53901 Hey BA, check this one out: http://www.makezine.com/blog/IMG_0180.jpg Hey BA, check this one out:

http://www.makezine.com/blog/IMG_0180.jpg

]]> By: CarrieP http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53900 CarrieP Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:29:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53900 Those pumpkins rocked. You've just gone up in my "geek-o-meter." We couldn't take our binoculars out because it was raining and cloudy. Ah, well. Those pumpkins rocked. You’ve just gone up in my “geek-o-meter.”

We couldn’t take our binoculars out because it was raining and cloudy. Ah, well.

]]> By: Nadia http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53899 Nadia Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:05:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53899 Awesome job! I wish we had more of a Halloween culture down here in Australia. I saw a group of people walking down the street in costumes, looking very out-of-place, but it was just so cool to see them celebrate in their own way. Awesome job!

I wish we had more of a Halloween culture down here in Australia. I saw a group of people walking down the street in costumes, looking very out-of-place, but it was just so cool to see them celebrate in their own way.

]]> By: Mena http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53898 Mena Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:51:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53898 Supernova, this one reminded me of Calvin & Hobbes: http://www.extremepumpkins.com/terpum.html There are a lot of fun ones at that site. Some people really have a lot of imagination! Supernova, this one reminded me of Calvin & Hobbes:
http://www.extremepumpkins.com/terpum.html
There are a lot of fun ones at that site. Some people really have a lot of imagination!

]]> By: Moose http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53897 Moose Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:50:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53897 All three pumpkins are wicked-cool. But, ah, BA, how did you suspend the Dalek in midair like that? (I know Daleks hover now, but still...) Is it that you hollowed out the pumpkin but left the skin for the orange part? All three pumpkins are wicked-cool. But, ah, BA, how did you suspend the Dalek in midair like that? (I know Daleks hover now, but still…)

Is it that you hollowed out the pumpkin but left the skin for the orange part?

]]> By: Mark Schindler http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53896 Mark Schindler Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:01:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53896 That's the worst "Face of Boe" ever... Oh, it's a Dalek. Well, that's different. Never mind. That’s the worst “Face of Boe” ever…
Oh, it’s a Dalek.
Well, that’s different. Never mind.

]]> By: StarDragon The Canadian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53895 StarDragon The Canadian Thu, 01 Nov 2007 07:58:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53895 Happy halloween! Happy halloween!

]]> By: StarDragon The Canadian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53894 StarDragon The Canadian Thu, 01 Nov 2007 07:57:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53894 John,anytime your brain is connected to the rest of you,and it becomes deprived of oxygen,you will puke. John,anytime your brain is connected to the rest of you,and it becomes deprived of oxygen,you will puke.

]]> By: Supernova http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53893 Supernova Thu, 01 Nov 2007 06:21:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53893 Oh Phil, you're such a dork. :) I love the axe-murdered pumpkin. Reminds me of the hilarious snowmen Calvin used to build in the comic strip. Oh Phil, you’re such a dork. :)

I love the axe-murdered pumpkin. Reminds me of the hilarious snowmen Calvin used to build in the comic strip.

]]> By: Brian G http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53892 Brian G Thu, 01 Nov 2007 06:19:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53892 I think Mrs. BA and The Little Astronomer have a couple issues to work out. Why can't they make a nice pirate fish or something? I think Mrs. BA and The Little Astronomer have a couple issues to work out. Why can’t they make a nice pirate fish or something?

]]> By: kimonohime http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53891 kimonohime Thu, 01 Nov 2007 05:58:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53891 Wonderful Dalek! Fellow Whovian geek here. Our pumpkins got smashed. Not happy. Wonderful Dalek! Fellow Whovian geek here.

Our pumpkins got smashed. Not happy.

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-53890 The Bad Astronomer Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:21:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/10/31/trick-or-geek/#comment-53890 Sigh. I didn't take the 'scope out at all. My back got hurt today chasing after one of our dogs, and then TLA decided she wanted to trick or treat with a friend who lives 10 km away, so Mrs,. BA wasn't here to help me haul it out. All for the best, I guess: we had maybe 15 kids total. Weird. Sigh. I didn’t take the ‘scope out at all. My back got hurt today chasing after one of our dogs, and then TLA decided she wanted to trick or treat with a friend who lives 10 km away, so Mrs,. BA wasn’t here to help me haul it out. All for the best, I guess: we had maybe 15 kids total. Weird.

]]>