Comments on: Another one turns to the dark side… http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/ 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, 14 Feb 2012 18:53:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Robin Capper http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70840 Robin Capper Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:20:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70840 Thanks for biting the link bait. I thought you'd like the video, I thought it was cool :-) Thanks for biting the link bait. I thought you’d like the video, I thought it was cool :-)

]]> By: Chris Lintott’s Universe » Carnival of Space #42 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70839 Chris Lintott’s Universe » Carnival of Space #42 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:12:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70839 [...] Entering the solar system, we pass an unremarkable point some 550 times as far from the Sun as the Earth is. Unremarkable, that is, apart from the fact that, as Centauri Dreams reports, it could be the destination for the FOCAL mission to create the world’s most powerful telescope. For basic navigation, Phil’s found someone to give him a hand. [...] [...] Entering the solar system, we pass an unremarkable point some 550 times as far from the Sun as the Earth is. Unremarkable, that is, apart from the fact that, as Centauri Dreams reports, it could be the destination for the FOCAL mission to create the world’s most powerful telescope. For basic navigation, Phil’s found someone to give him a hand. [...]

]]> By: Ken http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70838 Ken Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:37:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70838 Damn, that Lilly video was good. At first I was suspicious but at one point she definitely knew where the next country was and didn't turn around to look at anyone, and you couldn't shine a laser pointer or anything there. As for the kid..well, I dunno what the standard is for kids. I could name the planetary bodies and various compositions for them, types of stars etc by the time I was 6..but wow did that knowledge and interest evaporate when I learned that astronomy was maths instead of pictures and diagrams >_> Ah well, he's got a great head start. Damn, that Lilly video was good. At first I was suspicious but at one point she definitely knew where the next country was and didn’t turn around to look at anyone, and you couldn’t shine a laser pointer or anything there.

As for the kid..well, I dunno what the standard is for kids. I could name the planetary bodies and various compositions for them, types of stars etc by the time I was 6..but wow did that knowledge and interest evaporate when I learned that astronomy was maths instead of pictures and diagrams >_>
Ah well, he’s got a great head start.

]]> By: Buzz Parsec http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70837 Buzz Parsec Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:38:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70837 Well, top 10 anyway, but you should see my niece holding forth about cephalopods. And mollusks in general. The only person I've ever seen voluntarily pet a slug[1]. Talk about the *dark side*. (She's going to be 6 next week.) [1] Me: Isn't it slimy? Her: Of course. It's a slug. Well, top 10 anyway, but you should see my niece holding forth about cephalopods. And mollusks in general. The only person I’ve ever seen voluntarily pet a slug[1]. Talk about the *dark side*. (She’s going to be 6 next week.)

[1] Me: Isn’t it slimy?
Her: Of course. It’s a slug.

]]> By: Flounder http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70836 Flounder Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:10:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70836 Yipes! Dawkins calls it child abuse to call a kid a Muslim or a Catholic. But an astronomer! That's got to be super-duper child abuse! And such a cute kid, too. Kidding aside, I wish there where a lot more great parents like that in the world. Well done. Yipes! Dawkins calls it child abuse to call a kid a Muslim or a Catholic. But an astronomer! That’s got to be super-duper child abuse! And such a cute kid, too. Kidding aside, I wish there where a lot more great parents like that in the world. Well done.

]]> By: Seamyst http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70835 Seamyst Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:31:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70835 Awwww, he's adorable! Awwww, he’s adorable!

]]> By: Max Fagin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70834 Max Fagin Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:54:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70834 Doctor: Well madam, I have some bad news for you. The test results for your son came back, and I'm afraid your son has what we call "The Knack." Mother: *GASP* What is "The Knack?" Doctor: Well, in technical terms, it's a mastery of all things scientific and technical, but a complete lack of anything resembling social skills. Mother: Oh no! Will he be able to live a normal life? Doctor: No, he'll have to be an engineer. Mother: Oh god! NO!! *sobs* Doctor: Well madam, I have some bad news for you. The test results for your son came back, and I’m afraid your son has what we call “The Knack.”

Mother: *GASP* What is “The Knack?”

Doctor: Well, in technical terms, it’s a mastery of all things scientific and technical, but a complete lack of anything resembling social skills.

Mother: Oh no! Will he be able to live a normal life?

Doctor: No, he’ll have to be an engineer.

Mother: Oh god! NO!! *sobs*

]]> By: Lugosi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70833 Lugosi Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:57:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70833 <b>Q:</b> Why is there an asteroid belt? <b>A</b>To keep the solar system's pants from falling down!! A bad joke? Yes, but at least it's cleaner than Michael's remark about "the twin moons of Uranus." Q: Why is there an asteroid belt?

ATo keep the solar system’s pants from falling down!!

A bad joke? Yes, but at least it’s cleaner than Michael’s remark about “the twin moons of Uranus.”

]]> By: KaiYeves http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70832 KaiYeves Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:44:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70832 Little-genius-boy-whose-name-I-do-not-know: You rock! I hope this becomes a viral hit! Little-genius-boy-whose-name-I-do-not-know:
You rock!
I hope this becomes a viral hit!

]]> By: Miss Cellania http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70831 Miss Cellania Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:47:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70831 His mother has every right to be proud! His mother has every right to be proud!

]]> By: Will. M http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70830 Will. M Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:41:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70830 Also, check out American Science Surplus (americansciencesurplus.com) for astronomy and geography placemats and many kinds of cool science-related stuff, useful and just fun. Also, check out American Science Surplus (americansciencesurplus.com) for astronomy and geography placemats and many kinds of cool science-related stuff, useful and just fun.

]]> By: Melusine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70829 Melusine Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:42:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70829 Thanks, BA, that made my day. BTW, those placemats are sold in the Houston Museum of Natural Science - I even once bought one of the Periodic Table to use as a mouse pad. They can be bought online at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/SYSTEM-LEARNING-PLACEMAT-Painless-Learning/dp/B000H6DO9G/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1203352535&sr=8-21" rel="nofollow">Amazon here</a>. There are ones with stars and constellation, rocks and minerals, etc. When I was a kid we had geography placemats - easy way for kids to learn. He really is cute talking about the asteroid belt. Thanks, BA, that made my day. BTW, those placemats are sold in the Houston Museum of Natural Science – I even once bought one of the Periodic Table to use as a mouse pad. They can be bought online at Amazon here. There are ones with stars and constellation, rocks and minerals, etc. When I was a kid we had geography placemats – easy way for kids to learn.

He really is cute talking about the asteroid belt.

]]> By: Mark Martin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70828 Mark Martin Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:29:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70828 As far as I'm concerned there are billions, even trillions, of planets. It's just that a handful of them are exceptionally large & complex. As far as I’m concerned there are billions, even trillions, of planets. It’s just that a handful of them are exceptionally large & complex.

]]> By: Barton Paul Levenson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70827 Barton Paul Levenson Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:18:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70827 Actually, there are 11 planets. It's just that three of them are small. Actually, there are 11 planets. It’s just that three of them are small.

]]> By: Navneeth http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70826 Navneeth Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:11:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70826 My favourite part: "On <i>PLuutO</i>, it's just cold, cold, cold forever." :D :D I haven't been fortunate enough to view a video of the Little BA debunk Hoagland, or explain a beautiful image from the Hubble, so I guess, to me, he is the cutest kid, EVAH. :) And he knows there are only eight planets. That makes him the smartest. :P My favourite part:

“On PLuutO, it’s just cold, cold, cold forever.”
:D :D

I haven’t been fortunate enough to view a video of the Little BA debunk Hoagland, or explain a beautiful image from the Hubble, so I guess, to me, he is the cutest kid, EVAH. :) And he knows there are only eight planets. That makes him the smartest. :P

]]> By: JackC http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70825 JackC Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:52:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70825 I really, really wish I had a video camera when my friend's 7-year-old daughter came up to me playing with my HP calculater and said "Can you teach me what a square root is?" Of course, I did. JC I really, really wish I had a video camera when my friend’s 7-year-old daughter came up to me playing with my HP calculater and said “Can you teach me what a square root is?”

Of course, I did.

JC

]]> By: Mark Martin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70824 Mark Martin Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:06:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70824 Behold the power of astronomy? What became of the power of cheese? Behold the power of astronomy? What became of the power of cheese?

]]> By: MistressOfTheDorkness http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70823 MistressOfTheDorkness Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:01:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70823 Glad you enjoyed the 'lecture' from my offspring. :-) Thanks, he is quite adorable, isn't he? And, believe me, I'm not *trying* to turn him into an astronomy geek, Mommy wants him to be an Engineer... if I have to settle for the Aeronautical variety, I suppose that's okay. Glad you enjoyed the ‘lecture’ from my offspring. :-) Thanks, he is quite adorable, isn’t he?

And, believe me, I’m not *trying* to turn him into an astronomy geek, Mommy wants him to be an Engineer… if I have to settle for the Aeronautical variety, I suppose that’s okay.

]]> By: Christa Cochran http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70822 Christa Cochran Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:13:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70822 Adorable. Wish that I could do something like that with my cousins (being 3 and a half hours away at school does make teaching them things a lot harder than it was to teach my little brother). I always loved science, and once I was older, taught my siblings science when I had the chance. My little brother loved to watch the weather channel with me (I'm a meteorology major, so I did a lot of watching of the weather channel), and I would teach him everything I knew. My brother, on the way to kindergarten one morning, told the girl next to him on the bus (who happened to be a friend of mine from when we are in middle school) everything about the weather - it didn't take her long to realize that that was my doing. When my siblings told me about this after school, I nearly died laughing. Kids will learn anything that you try hard enough to teach them. Adorable. Wish that I could do something like that with my cousins (being 3 and a half hours away at school does make teaching them things a lot harder than it was to teach my little brother).
I always loved science, and once I was older, taught my siblings science when I had the chance. My little brother loved to watch the weather channel with me (I’m a meteorology major, so I did a lot of watching of the weather channel), and I would teach him everything I knew. My brother, on the way to kindergarten one morning, told the girl next to him on the bus (who happened to be a friend of mine from when we are in middle school) everything about the weather – it didn’t take her long to realize that that was my doing. When my siblings told me about this after school, I nearly died laughing.
Kids will learn anything that you try hard enough to teach them.

]]> By: Kevin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70821 Kevin Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:37:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70821 Phil, It's <b>never</b> too early to start kids out on the true path. My friend's son was born last Thursday, and a few of us are already figuring out how to turn him to the astronomy side. Phil, It’s never too early to start kids out on the true path.

My friend’s son was born last Thursday, and a few of us are already figuring out how to turn him to the astronomy side.

]]> By: Michael Lonergan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70820 Michael Lonergan Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:56:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70820 Cute. However, when I was his age Pluto was a planet, and wil always be a planet in my books. You cannot just go and arbitrarily decide one day that Pluto will NOT be a planet! If you want to add more planets, fine! But they never asked me! There was no referendum on whether or not Pluto should be thrown out. Now, I'd like to talk about the twin moons of Uranus, if I may.... Cute. However, when I was his age Pluto was a planet, and wil always be a planet in my books. You cannot just go and arbitrarily decide one day that Pluto will NOT be a planet! If you want to add more planets, fine! But they never asked me! There was no referendum on whether or not Pluto should be thrown out.

Now, I’d like to talk about the twin moons of Uranus, if I may….

]]> By: Tim G http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70819 Tim G Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:48:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70819 There is a video with over two million hits of a 23 month-old girl named, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r43yCiKlbCo" rel="nofollow">Lilly</a>, who was very cute. Of course, talking about astronomy instead of geography wins you extra cuteness points. It's very close. Some of the books my parents gave me when I was little had to do with science and astronomy in particular. That wins them parenting points. However, I do not recall either of them talking to me about them. That costs them some points. There is a video with over two million hits of a 23 month-old girl named, Lilly, who was very cute. Of course, talking about astronomy instead of geography wins you extra cuteness points. It’s very close.

Some of the books my parents gave me when I was little had to do with science and astronomy in particular. That wins them parenting points. However, I do not recall either of them talking to me about them. That costs them some points.

]]> By: John Paradox http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70818 John Paradox Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:35:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70818 Eat your heart out, Stephen Colbert! J/P=? Eat your heart out, Stephen Colbert!

J/P=?

]]> By: Rowsdower http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70817 Rowsdower Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:17:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70817 I used to be that kid. Well, not that exact kid, but when I was that age I knew all that stuff, too. Lots of fun learning about that stuff. And I may not be a scientist, but I keep learning about that stuff. Lots of fun. I used to be that kid. Well, not that exact kid, but when I was that age I knew all that stuff, too. Lots of fun learning about that stuff. And I may not be a scientist, but I keep learning about that stuff. Lots of fun.

]]> By: autumn http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/comment-page-1/#comment-70816 autumn Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:27:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/17/another-one-turns-to-the-dark-side/#comment-70816 Come on BA, you're in trouble when your wife reads that last line. I'm going with second cutest kid ever, but perhaps the most interesting to talk to. Come on BA, you’re in trouble when your wife reads that last line.
I’m going with second cutest kid ever, but perhaps the most interesting to talk to.

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