Hey, the new Circle of Skepticism blog carnival is up at Sorting Out Science. But don’t believe me, prove it for yourself! There’re lots of doubtful things to read there.
About Bad Astronomy
If you went to BadAstronomy.com and found yourself here, never fear: the BA Blog has moved to its new home at Discover Blogs. The original BA site (with the Moon Hoax debunking and all that) is still online, too.
Phil Plait, the creator of Bad Astronomy, is an astronomer, lecturer, and author. After ten years working on Hubble Space Telescope and six more working on astronomy education, he struck out on his own as a writer. He has written two books, dozens of magazine articles, and 12 bazillion blog articles. He is a skeptic, and fights misuses of science as well as praising the wonder of real science.
Contact me: The Bad Astronomer "at" gmail "dot" com
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Death from the Skies!
Order a copy of Death from the Skies! from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Borders.
"If things worked the way I wanted them to, any reporter about to do another 'sensational' story on deadly meteors would consult this volume, and bang! common sense would find its way into the news. How strange would that world be?"
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DISCOVERmagazine.com: Latest Articles on Space- Will Our Universe Collide With a Neighboring One?
- Visual Science: Polishing a Cosmic Spyglass
- Visual Science: NASA Unveils Its New Rocket
- Is Jupiter's Bizarre Moon Our Best Hope for Finding Extraterrestrial Life?
- Reviews: Clashes With Aliens, America vs. Science, and Really Horrible Sci-Fi: The Best in Science Culture
- DISCOVER Blogs: The Loom
July 17th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
It’s gonna be one of those days when there is so much cool stuff to look at on the web that I get no work done at all. SIGH
July 18th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Hi Phil,
Would you mind posting basic html tips people can us to separate their comments from others. Italics, blockquotes, or whatever would be fine. I have a hard time following these threads when people use nothing or just quotes.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Also, I remember seeing complaints about font sizes and styles right after you sold out to the man. In case people don’t know, they easily change font sizes by holding down Ctrl and turning their mouse wheel.
In both IE and Firefox, you can force any web pages to display whatever font or size you want in tools–>options.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Hi Phil,
Would you mind posting basic html tips people can us to separate their comments from others. Italics, blockquotes, or whatever would be fine. I have a hard time following these threads when people use nothing or just quotes. Yes, that would be a good idea. Don’t think anyone would read the tips though.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:03 am
That’s ok Madge, just toast up some Soldiers, dip them in you eggs, and relax! LOL
July 18th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Yes, that would be a good idea. Don’t think anyone would read the tips though.
Well how about having a paper clip pop up every time someone clicks sumbit that says “Would you like to use italics?”
People would love that.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:03 am
oooh, and then the paper clip could ask “Are you a troll, or are you just feeding a troll. If you are a troll it automatically sets your font to green.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:20 am
“Are you sure you want to post your comment and risk looking like an idiot?”
click yes
“OK. Last chance to back out. Are you absolutely positive you want to submit?”
click yes
“Please answer one more question before your comment is submitted. Have you found me helpful, or would you like to disable me for future comments?”
click disable
“Oh, look at you all high and mighty. You don’t think you need help from Clippy? I’m just doing my job, Captain Moron. I’ve got a family to feed. F you. Just for that, I’m deleting your comment”
July 18th, 2008 at 3:36 am
@ Michael L
Dippy egg and toast soldiers! Now I’m hungry. (dippy dippy dippy)
July 18th, 2008 at 5:39 am
Now I’m hungry and thoroughly amused. Jose, you just cracked me up.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Thanks for the link, Phil (ooooh, and for the good posts to feature in the circle, too)!
July 18th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Madge, when I was a kid, my mom would put the boiled eggs in an egg cup, I’d crack the eggs, dip my toast soldiers in, and scoop out the rest. Then I’d take the shell, and pretend they were domes on the Moon. My spoon was some kind of alien space ship that would smack the “domes” and crush them to pieces!
Hard to believe that was the imagination of a 6 year old kid hyped up by the real moon landings! (And lots and lots of sugar!)
July 18th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Madge & Michael L.
I tried that British thing this morning. I didn’t really like it too much. The egg wouldn’t stick to the peanut butter.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Michael. We had a dippy egg ritual too! Once the egg was finished I would turn it upside down in the egg cup and hand it to my Dad saying “I don’t want my egg” He would then solemnly tap away at the top until his spoon broke through to the empty egg. The look of surprise and disappointment on his face will stay with me forever. At Easter he would draw cartoon characters on our eggs ( including a lot of funny aliens )We were simple folk
July 19th, 2008 at 3:45 am
# Ted Says:
July 18th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Hi Phil,
Would you mind posting basic html tips people can us to separate their comments from others. Italics, blockquotes, or whatever would be fine. I have a hard time following these threads when people use nothing or just quotes. Yes, that would be a good idea. Don’t think anyone would read the tips though.
– - -
I for one would.
– - -
# Jose Says:
July 18th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Yes, that would be a good idea. Don’t think anyone would read the tips though.
Well how about having a paper clip pop up every time someone clicks sumbit that says “Would you like to use italics?”
People would love that.
– - -
I’d love it so much that you could expect to get the paper clip back bent into some new shape . . .
(That was sarcasm if anyone missed it . . .)