Oh, I almost forgot (until Rebecca reminded me) — today is Randi’s birthday! And not just any birthday, but his 80th one (not counting the actual day of his birth).
I’d post a story about him, but in fact I just did the other day. So instead, I’ll just say that I hope I’m as pithy, vigorous, and full of vinegar and spit as Randi is when I’m 80. He is truly Amazing.
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.
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August 7th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
happy birthday Randi.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Many happy returns, Randi!
August 7th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
It’s good to see Randy’s 80 years attesting to his pugnacious character. We can all only hope to be similarly mentally acute and physically sharp when we turn 80. I wonder if it has anything to do with Randy’s telomeres. When he lives to a 100, I’m sure we’ll all find out.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Happy Birthday Randi!!
August 7th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I meant Randi
August 7th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Just don’t light the candles near any fire sprinklers.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Happy Birthday Randi! Thanks for the enlightenment you inspired me with as an impressionable youngster! You gave me the courage to question suspect claims (nearly all of which turned out to be completely baseless) no matter how respectable the sources were to me (parents, teachers, network news anchors, scientist look-alikes who don’t bother with the tedium of scientific methodologies, …).
Who ever realized what a profoundly difficult task it would be to convince people that reality is real? Thanks for making, and continuing to make, considerable progress in that realm. If I was president, I would have research done on how to transfer your gift for revealing reality in an entertaining and engaging way into the minds of every parent and teacher on the planet.
Thanks!
Thanks!
August 7th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Happy Birthday, Randi ! And many more years of fighting the good fight. Although, if you were to stop today, your contributions to date would dwarf almost anybody else’s.
PS - Don’t stop.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I want to add my best wishes to Randi on this special birthday. May you live in good health to be 120 at the very least.
BAMom
August 7th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Happy birthday, Randi, and thanks for all that you’ve done so far! I bet there’s quite a lot to follow.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I’m half Randi’s age and he’s got considerably more vim, vigour and hair than me.
Here’s hoping that he also has Martin Gardner’s longevity.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I know Randi’s not an imbiber, but I’m going to toast his 80th by sampling this new stout in his honour.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Cool, eight decades of Randi!
Like the image, Phil. Who made it?
Someone should remind Randi that a diet rich in Omega 3, including oily fish, is good for the mind.
Given that Randi doesn’t smoke or drink (to my knowledge), he should live long and prosper.
Since he lives in Florida (AFAIK), he will also live long and perspire.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I’ve had that picture on my computer for forever. I can’t remember where I got it from!
August 7th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Happy Birthday Mr Randi
Thanks for being a beacon of light in the gloom of ignorance.
Keep shining!
August 7th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Please tell Randi that the folks from Red Bank NJ say Happy Birthday!
August 7th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Happy birthday Randi!
August 7th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Did Rebecca also remind you that it’s your sister’s birthday??? Huh??? Happy Birthday, Mr. Randi. Obviously, at least two people born on August 7th were destined to be amazing!
August 7th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Happy Birthday Randi. We love you man!
August 7th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Good one, BBS! Keep Bruh honest!
Happy Birfday Randi! 80 is the new 30!
Rich
August 7th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Happy B-day Randi!
August 7th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Happy Birthday Randi!
August 7th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Yay! Randi’s birthday! Let’s hope he lasts for a gazillion more!
August 7th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Happy Birthday Randi! I wish I could celebrate with you in person. Only since you taught me how to think critically and all…
August 7th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Happy birthday, Your Amazingness!
August 7th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
It’s Randi’s birthday? Really? So where’s the evidence, huh? How come people never seem to have a birth certificate handy when they make these kinds of claims, or if they do have one, it’s always blurry and looks suspiciously like a streetlamp, or something?
Oh well, I suppose I can take it on faith just this one time.
Happy Birthday Randi!
August 7th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
So what star sign does that make him? Just kiddin’
HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY RANDI!
August 7th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Happy Amazing 80, I bet you don’t even need lenses in those glasses.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Phil, how could you forget his birthday? It’s right there on the Skepchick calendar!
Happy birthday, JR! You have my admiration, and that I don’t give easily.
And happy birthday to you BigBadSis!
August 8th, 2008 at 5:15 am
Wow, he has my birthday, well, we do not actually share the exact same day of birth. He was 53 when I was born.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:40 am
Wow - now put age all in perspective
Awesome, Mind-Blowing thats how you may feel after looking at these pictures that will put today in perspective. Now How Big Are You? And How Big Are The Things That Upset You Today?
http://www.webxact.co.uk/2008/08/these-pictures-will-humble-anyone.html
August 8th, 2008 at 5:58 am
I knew his birthday was in August some time and that there is incorrect information published here and there as to what the exact day is. It is good to hear it from a trustworthy source.
Happy belated birthday, Randi! You share it with the legendary Stan Freberg.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Happy Birthday Amazing Randi.
Thanks for beeing the way you are.
If more people were like you, so many problems would just go away.
We are waiting for those new books, now that you may have a bit more time with Phil’s help, I hope they get ready.
Thank you,Super Amazing Randi.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I imagine his mid-life crisis will be kicking in any time now….
August 8th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Happy (belated) Birthday Randi!
And BigBadSis, too!
August 8th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Happy birthday, Randi!
Also, the cool illo makes me want to create “The Amazing Randi” as a character in the City of Heroes MMO…
August 8th, 2008 at 8:48 am
“The Amazing Randi” as a character in the City of Heroes MMO…
Or a rip of The Incredibles. I’m *totally* tattling to Pixar!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Happy birthday Amazing One! If there was a god might his name be Randi…
August 8th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Many Happy returns of the day Randi!
You and Martin Gardner are the most influential figures in the the skeptic movement.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
And they say only the good die youg. Ha!
August 9th, 2008 at 5:46 am
PLEASE make a poster of that Amazing Randi image and let us know how much. My wife would understand if I had to move her picture to a corner.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:09 am
Happy Birthday from Belgium! Hope to make the cruise next year if you have one. Thanks for so much that you have given to your fellow man.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
[…] belated birthday, Randi! 2008 August 13, Wednesday, 23:44 — monado Last week was the Amazing Randi’s 80th birthday. No wonder he’s thinking of retiring! He has been a stalwart fighter for rationality and […]