Comments on: My fame has Tanked http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/ 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 15:43:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: kkjayne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73515 kkjayne Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:46:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73515 If they showed me the picture I'd know who you were... wouldn't catch me in a bikini though :D If they showed me the picture I’d know who you were… wouldn’t catch me in a bikini though :D

]]> By: DexX http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73514 DexX Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:31:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73514 Dr Karl is a god, and if I possessed a uterus I would be working hard to have his babies. Dr Karl is a god, and if I possessed a uterus I would be working hard to have his babies.

]]> By: COX! http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73513 COX! Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:01:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73513 There there buddy. I still love you. We also just missed Sydney mardi gras, it was a prime publicity spot! If you're ever around this way, you may not be able to score a free hotel room to trash but I have a fold out bed and a trashable dwelling you're more than welcome to! :D Stay Sharp There there buddy. I still love you.

We also just missed Sydney mardi gras, it was a prime publicity spot!

If you’re ever around this way, you may not be able to score a free hotel room to trash but I have a fold out bed and a trashable dwelling you’re more than welcome to! :D

Stay Sharp

]]> By: Buzz Parsec http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73512 Buzz Parsec Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:36:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73512 David - I think you are either misunderstanding or misrepresenting what BA and the Berkeley guy were saying about wind power. It wasn't wind *power* but wind *farms* that seemed to be the issue. Apparently the Berkeley guy thinks the transmission loses from wind farms is too great for them to be economically viable, but point-of-use wind generators are another thing entirely. I disagree with this, at least in many circumstances. The local wind project I am most familiar with is the Cape Wind project to put several hundred windmills in Nantucket sound, off the south coast of Cape Cod. The wind farm would generate about 2/3 to 3/4 of the power currently used on Cape Cod. Most of the current power there is generated by a (coal, I think, but it may be oil) fired generator at the north end of the Cape Cod Canal, at the west end (base or shoulder if you think of the Cape as a flexed arm.) The wind farm would be closer to most of the Cape then the current generator, so the transmission losses should be significantly less. (Cape Cod is about 90 miles long, so the average place on the Cape would be 45 miles from the coal plant, but only 25 miles from the wind farm.) These distances may be too short to matter, the Berkeley guy may have been considering cases where the wind farms are hundreds of miles from the users, and traditional power plants are located right near them. This may be true for many locations but is quite wrong for many others. If wind power was only viable in a handful of locations in the world, it might be true that there wouldn't be enough economies of scale to make building wind generators, towers, turbine blades, the electronics needed to control them, train builders to put them up and maintenance people to maintain them, and so on would all be too expensive, but there are hundreds if not thousands of potential sites, and a market for thousands of towers, so this should be an issue. David – I think you are either misunderstanding or misrepresenting what BA and the Berkeley guy were saying about wind power. It wasn’t wind *power* but wind *farms* that seemed to be the issue. Apparently the Berkeley guy thinks the transmission loses from wind farms is too great for them to be economically viable, but point-of-use wind generators are another thing entirely.

I disagree with this, at least in many circumstances. The local wind project I am most familiar with is the Cape Wind project to put several hundred windmills in Nantucket sound, off the south coast of Cape Cod. The wind farm would generate about 2/3 to 3/4 of the power currently used on Cape Cod. Most of the current power there is generated by a (coal, I think, but it may be oil) fired generator at the north end of the Cape Cod Canal, at the west end (base or shoulder if you think of the Cape as a flexed arm.) The wind farm would be closer to most of the Cape then the current generator, so the transmission losses should be significantly less. (Cape Cod is about 90 miles long,
so the average place on the Cape would be 45 miles from the coal plant, but only 25 miles from the wind farm.)

These distances may be too short to matter, the Berkeley guy may have been considering cases where the wind farms are hundreds of miles from the users, and traditional power plants are located right near them. This may be true for many locations but is quite wrong for many others. If wind power was only viable in a handful of locations in the world, it might be true that there wouldn’t be enough economies of scale to make building wind generators, towers, turbine blades, the electronics needed to control them, train builders to put them up and maintenance people to maintain them, and so on would all be too expensive, but there are hundreds if not thousands of potential sites, and a market for thousands of towers, so this should be an issue.

]]> By: Kylie Sturgess http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73511 Kylie Sturgess Sun, 02 Mar 2008 02:55:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73511 Ah Phil. There was a wide range of nationalities interviewed. But you did get their attention though. Or maybe that was the bikini I was wearing that you couldn't see off camera... never mind. Maybe for the next vox pop I do for The TANK Vodcast... :) Ah Phil. There was a wide range of nationalities interviewed. But you did get their attention though.
Or maybe that was the bikini I was wearing that you couldn’t see off camera… never mind. Maybe for the next vox pop I do for The TANK Vodcast… :)

]]> By: Richard Saunders http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73510 Richard Saunders Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:49:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73510 I think of Phil as a world leader! Well, he should be anyway. I think of Phil as a world leader! Well, he should be anyway.

]]> By: Lars Bruchmann http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73509 Lars Bruchmann Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:54:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73509 Maybe all of us science geeks down under weren't at the beach? We were probably sitting in basements behind our computers or something! LOL. If I were on a beach surrounded by hot Aussie babes in bikinis I'd pretend not do know a darned thing about astronomy! I luv ya Phil but I need all the help I can get in that department. PS, any smart, pretty women feel free to write me!! ;) Maybe all of us science geeks down under weren’t at the beach? We were probably sitting in basements behind our computers or something! LOL. If I were on a beach surrounded by hot Aussie babes in bikinis I’d pretend not do know a darned thing about astronomy! I luv ya Phil but I need all the help I can get in that department. PS, any smart, pretty women feel free to write me!! ;)

]]> By: Selina Morse http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73508 Selina Morse Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:03:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73508 Knock knock. "Who's there?" Phil "Phil who?" That's showbusiness. Knock knock.
“Who’s there?”
Phil
“Phil who?”
That’s showbusiness.

]]> By: Ken http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73507 Ken Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:55:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73507 They weren't Australian. They were in Australia. /trolling //slashies They weren’t Australian. They were in Australia.

/trolling
//slashies

]]> By: Jamie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73506 Jamie Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:27:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73506 I'd offer to take a pic of me in a bikini to prove that at least one aussie woman does, but sadly, there are things the world shouldn't have to endure. I’d offer to take a pic of me in a bikini to prove that at least one aussie woman does, but sadly, there are things the world shouldn’t have to endure.

]]> By: The Barber of Civility http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73505 The Barber of Civility Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:37:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73505 Oh, yeah. We would have to move the Johnson Space Center. Oh, yeah. We would have to move the Johnson Space Center.

]]> By: The Barber of Civility http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73504 The Barber of Civility Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:36:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73504 Phil - It's a nice picture of the three of you. I'm surprised none of the interviewees said you were "cute"! However, it isn't bad to know that some think you might be a world leader (unless they think you led us to where we are!) On another topic, maybe Texas SHOULD become a creationist state. Then we can force them out of the country. BA bloggers can retain their U.S. citizenship as long as they are wearing one of your hats or can show us a copy of your book. About the only thing I'd miss would be lamb ribs. Phil -

It’s a nice picture of the three of you. I’m surprised none of the interviewees said you were “cute”!

However, it isn’t bad to know that some think you might be a world leader (unless they think you led us to where we are!)

On another topic, maybe Texas SHOULD become a creationist state. Then we can force them out of the country. BA bloggers can retain their U.S. citizenship as long as they are wearing one of your hats or can show us a copy of your book. About the only thing I’d miss would be lamb ribs.

]]> By: Thanks http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73503 Thanks Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:52:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73503 The best TV in years. I did recognize mr. Plait. He was sitting on a surf board. The best TV in years.

I did recognize mr. Plait. He was sitting on a surf board.

]]> By: quasidog http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73502 quasidog Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:52:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73502 It's ok BA. We already have a famous Science Guy here in Aus, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. Hang out with him for a bit, go on a few tours and bam, everyone will know who you are ;p (Remember there are only 20+ million people in Australia) I personally have a lot of his books, most of them are about debunking popular myths in science. "Dis-information" is probably my favorite. Actually I am sure I heard you on the radio (JJJ) once before on one of his shows a few years ago. I'm sure it was for Astronomy Myths or something. http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/ Big it up for Dr Karl ... and also BA ;p It’s ok BA. We already have a famous Science Guy here in Aus, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. Hang out with him for a bit, go on a few tours and bam, everyone will know who you are ;p (Remember there are only 20+ million people in Australia)

I personally have a lot of his books, most of them are about debunking popular myths in science. “Dis-information” is probably my favorite. Actually I am sure I heard you on the radio (JJJ) once before on one of his shows a few years ago. I’m sure it was for Astronomy Myths or something.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/

Big it up for Dr Karl … and also BA ;p

]]> By: Shane http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73501 Shane Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:17:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73501 get over yourself man ! get over yourself man !

]]> By: firemancarl http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73500 firemancarl Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:33:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73500 Well, sorry BA that no one knew who you were. However, it looks like you may have dressed up as a firefighter. http://www.iaff3574.com/single_pic.cfm?PicID=55296&gallery=On%20the%20Job I say it's a dead ringer! Well, sorry BA that no one knew who you were. However, it looks like you may have dressed up as a firefighter.

http://www.iaff3574.com/single_pic.cfm?PicID=55296&gallery=On%20the%20Job

I say it’s a dead ringer!

]]> By: David http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73499 David Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:29:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73499 Maybe you can keep on trolling intelligent people by writing that some anonymous Berkeley guy claims that wind power is impossible, and linking to out of context windmill failures. If you do that enough, perhaps you can get a gig on Fox News as the anti-wind power consultant, and then we'll all know who you are! Maybe you can keep on trolling intelligent people by writing that some anonymous Berkeley guy claims that wind power is impossible, and linking to out of context windmill failures.

If you do that enough, perhaps you can get a gig on Fox News as the anti-wind power consultant, and then we’ll all know who you are!

]]> By: Brango http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73493 Brango Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:50:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73493 How about: The Bad Astronomer To Boldly Debunk Where No Man Has Debunked Before! How about:

The Bad Astronomer
To Boldly Debunk Where No Man Has Debunked Before!

]]> By: John Paradox http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73492 John Paradox Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:50:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73492 Here's the real question: would you prefer they have no idea who you are or mistake you for Adam Savage of the Mythbusters? J/P=? P.S. I notice there's a 'lookalike' page on the MB site, and your picture is not there. J/PS=? Here’s the real question:
would you prefer they have no idea who you are
or mistake you for Adam Savage of the Mythbusters?

J/P=?
P.S. I notice there’s a ‘lookalike’ page on the MB site, and your picture is not there.

J/PS=?

]]> By: Mick http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73498 Mick Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:47:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73498 Show a photo of Doctor Karl Kruszelnicki though and I'm sure most Australians would recognize him instantly, even if they can't pronounce his surname. So no need to worry. Skeptics are well represented down under. Show a photo of Doctor Karl Kruszelnicki though and I’m sure most Australians would recognize him instantly, even if they can’t pronounce his surname. So no need to worry. Skeptics are well represented down under.

]]> By: PsyberDave http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73497 PsyberDave Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:20:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73497 You need a TV show and a catch phrase. Maybe your catch phrase could be something like "Space is big." or "Astronomy r00lez" or how about "I cAn Haz fame?!" You need a TV show and a catch phrase. Maybe your catch phrase could be something like “Space is big.” or “Astronomy r00lez” or how about “I cAn Haz fame?!”

]]> By: Yoshi_3up http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73496 Yoshi_3up Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:34:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73496 Aww, come on Phil, maybe the Aussies didn't recognize you, but you know you are quite famous worldwide in both the skeptic community and the rest of BABlog readers around the globe. Aww, come on Phil, maybe the Aussies didn’t recognize you, but you know you are quite famous worldwide in both the skeptic community and the rest of BABlog readers around the globe.

]]> By: Charles http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73495 Charles Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:33:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73495 Mrs. BA probably sleeps a lot better at night because of it. (I kid, I kid) Seriously, most people are only topically interested in science, and only then when Big Things(tm) happen. Stuff like the Martian Rovers' first pictures. Men walking on the moon. Possible cures for cancer...that sort of thing. Ask an intelligent but non-scientific common, everyday person something about science and they'll echo back precisely what mass media has fed them if anything at all. They tend to think of scientists as "geeks" or something, but happily gulp up the benefits of science and research. That's fine, they just want to drive the car, and not know how to take it apart, much less know anything about the materials that were used or what even those materials are made of...and so forth and so on. So it's no surprise that Skeptics are not famous. Maybe when you flaunt it like Britney or as sauve as Clooney or as outrageous as Paris you'll be famous. But judging by two of three aforementioned people, it doesn't look like all that much fun anyway. Mrs. BA probably sleeps a lot better at night because of it. (I kid, I kid)

Seriously, most people are only topically interested in science, and only then when Big Things(tm) happen. Stuff like the Martian Rovers’ first pictures. Men walking on the moon. Possible cures for cancer…that sort of thing.

Ask an intelligent but non-scientific common, everyday person something about science and they’ll echo back precisely what mass media has fed them if anything at all. They tend to think of scientists as “geeks” or something, but happily gulp up the benefits of science and research.

That’s fine, they just want to drive the car, and not know how to take it apart, much less know anything about the materials that were used or what even those materials are made of…and so forth and so on.

So it’s no surprise that Skeptics are not famous. Maybe when you flaunt it like Britney or as sauve as Clooney or as outrageous as Paris you’ll be famous. But judging by two of three aforementioned people, it doesn’t look like all that much fun anyway.

]]> By: James Turley http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/comment-page-1/#comment-73494 James Turley Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:28:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/29/my-fame-has-tanked/#comment-73494 I'm sure your wife will be very happy :) I would only recognize you if you wore a cap though, were you wearing a cap? I’m sure your wife will be very happy :)

I would only recognize you if you wore a cap though, were you wearing a cap?

]]>