My feelings for Rebecca Watson are on record. So I need go no further there.
Except she has magnified them even more by very glowingly reviewing my book, Death from the Skies!
 |
| Rebecca posing with the book. Nice, but I like this one better. |
Come to think of it, given the number of cosmic events that can irradiate the Earth to the point of vaporization, "glowing" reviews should be common.
The only problem with Rebecca’s review is she complains about my puns. The thing is, I know she secretly loves them, but cannot bring herself to admit it, at least in public. C’mon, Rebecca: fess up. Or… maybe it’s because she’s a vegetarian, and the book is meteor than she’s used to.
Anyway, it’s a great review. Thanks, RW!
Oh– I’m hearing stories that the book is already appearing on bookshelves, and is being shipped by online stores. So what are you waiting for?
October 14th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Dr Plait told ten pun hoping that someone would laugh at least once. Sadly, no pun in ten did!
October 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
My copy just shipped today. W00t!!
October 14th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I just checked Amazon and mine should be here on Thursday! Can’t wait.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
According to Amazon, my copy is on its way!
October 14th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
[...] on, Phil. Stop being so shy. addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fsuburbanpanic.com%2F2008%2F10%2F12%2Fim-not-entirely-sure%2F’; [...]
October 14th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I don’t care what anybody says, puns are funny, so long as they are unexpected.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Aww, she’s cute! And before someone accuses me of being sexist, I think you’re cute too, Phil.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Phil, I searched the appendix but couldn’t find the correct odds for my chances of dying of a brain-melting pun-attack. It’s gotta be higher than a GRB, right?
October 14th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Aerik, there is also a SkepDudes calendar. Lighten up.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
She has got a point, Phil, some of the puns are… how can I say it… they burn, sometimes.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
What am I waiting for? A pun contest where the winner gets a free copy of the book!
Ok, maybe I’ll see if I can borrow a copy from my library. You’re in the e-card catalog as the “Bad Astrologer”, right?
October 14th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
a) The first few words should read: “Dr Plait told ten puns,” (We really need a limited edit function here…)
b) Is it just me, or are there people that just live to complain, ridicule, and in general be unwelcome here? *sigh*
October 14th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Yes.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
The “yes’ meant that there are people who just want to complain, not that it’s just you. Seriously needs an edit feature
October 14th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
This book and Sarah Vowell’s book will be mine come payday.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I for one, appreciate the puns. Hell, most of my sense of humor came from The Muppets. (The rest from Victor Borge.)
Yes, I see a trip to Tattered Cover on Friday.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Heck, I would have reviewed it if your publisher had sent me one.
And hey– puns and science go hand in hand — it’s the stock in trade of all us science writers, neh??
Good work, Rebecca!!!
October 14th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Puntastic, more reasons to buy the book.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
@ Larian LeQuella
Agreed, but that’s what happens when you’re over-eager to be the first postie!
October 14th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Actually, I am just a horrible typist, and if FireFox doesn’t underline it in red, I usually don’t catch it until much later… Although during my long and boring workdays, I do seem to get a lot of first posts in, but that’s only by chance.
BTW, what “code” is used here? Is it EBB (brackets like [ and ]), HTML (Greater and less than < and > ), or something else? And are the tags relatively standard (i.e. B for bold, I for Italic, etc.)? Without an edit, I am almost afraid to experiment for fear of the page getting dorked up.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
@ Larian LeQuella
The HTML codes here are:
Italics: “< " "i" ">” _____ “< " "/" "i" ">”
Bold: “< " "b" ">” _____ “< " "/" "b" ">“
October 14th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Hey Phil, any plans from the editors to sell it as an audio book?, That’d be awesome.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Amazon shipped my copy today! It’ll be here tomorrow! W00t!
October 14th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Cool. Thanks Ivan. Good thing I asked, since my first thought was EBB as opposed to HTML.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
You’re welcome, Larian.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
@ Larian LeQuella
P.S. Just make sure that there is/are no “space(s)” between the HTML tags.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
If they do make an asudio book they should have to versions one by the BA and another by the skepchick.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
My copy is on its route to Spain!
The problem is that Amazon uses swimming turtles to deliver it’s orders to Europe so the world will probably end anyway before I can read anything about the reasons.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Just to let folks know, oddly enough I don’t want overt references to sexual acts in the comments. I deleted the comments that had them.
And Aerik, if you read this, please avail yourself of the page where I list my one commenting policy.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Dang! Wish I’d been doing an audio recording when I read that. I have a female friend that misses my laugh and that pun turned me into a duck, ’cause I really quacked up.
GAry 7
October 14th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
It seems Phil has a new fan.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
that pun just made my day!
October 14th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
PhilB Says: “I for one, appreciate the puns. Hell, most of my sense of humor came from The Muppets. (The rest from Victor Borge.)”
Elevenis, any two?
- Jack
October 14th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I just had to delete another of Aerik’s comments because of the use of bad language.
Aerik, I gave a direct link to my comments policy. It says: Don’t be a jerk. It also says not to use bad language. Did I not make it simple enough for you?
And you were wrong in your comment anyway. Do yourself a favor and actually do a minimum amount of research: type the word “skepdude” into the search engine for this blog.
In fact, I’ll make it easy on you. CLICK THIS.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
It’s out?!
*Checks Watch*
Yeah, it’s October!
*Realizes bookstore is a five minute walk from coffee shop currently sipping latte at.*
BRB.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Who wants to the Chemist face when he sees that they are not out on the shelves intil the 20th.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Your title of the book sounds more like a 50’s sci fi movie. It there any chance of a movie being made about one of the death scenerio’s that you Phil will be the science adviser on that they (the director) have to listen to.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
@Davidlpf,
Ask and ye shall receive.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Oh, this is going to be soooo good. I can’t wait to get mine.
One question: Does this mean Phil gets to call himself The Deadly Astronomer from now on?
October 14th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
No Mike Five, don’t be silly. Phil Plait wears glasses, the Deadly Astronomer doesn’t.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Got an email from Amazon today. My copy is on the way, too!
October 14th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Ordered. It should be here from Amazon by tomorrow…. Now to just figure out how to get it autographed……
October 14th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
@ The Chemist
lol.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
According to Amazon “Death” is winging itself in my direction (Oz) as we speak.
So BA only 9 million more sales and you’ll have sold as many copies as “A Brief History Of Time”.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
@The Chemist
Y’know. Come to think of it. You never see those two in the same place at once.
Hmm…
October 14th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I’m glad I read the comments! I tossed the notice email without even looking at it because I figured it was just Spamazon doing what they do best.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Looking at that picture, I think I’m in loooooove….
Oh, nice book Phil
October 14th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Man, I would SO love to read this on my next flight… will have to see if it’s any of the bookstores before I fly in a few days..
bwahahahah!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:56 am
so, it’s in a way like “a choice of catastrophes“, part 2?
October 15th, 2008 at 5:40 am
Amazon tells me: expected delivery 19th of November… the wait is soon over!
Woohooo!
October 15th, 2008 at 8:55 am
“Aerik, there is also a SkepDudes calendar. Lighten up.”
So the Barack Obama monkey doll would have been fine if they’d also made a John McCain monkey doll?
October 15th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Zygar, the comment Aerik made has been deleted. I don’t get the context you’re basing your reply on?
October 15th, 2008 at 10:13 am
I don’t think Aerik’s comment makes any difference to my response. My point is that making a male version of the calendar does not put men and women on equal ground.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:19 am
No it doesn’t. I’d be buying the SkepChicks calendar. Definitely superior.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Shane, thanks for proving my point.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Zygar, I still don’t get it. I think you’re taking the SkepPeople calendars way to seriously.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:41 am
@Zygar:
The Skepchick Calendar is something that the Skepchicks CHOOSE to do of their own accord. They are in no way being forced at gunpoint to do this. Lighten up for Gods’ sake.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:55 am
BTW, ‘DFTS’ is now #1 in Amazon™’s “Astrophysics & Space Science” categor(y/ies), huzzah! Hoagland’s junk has dropped to #4.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
As of this morning my copy has shipped!
October 15, 2008 05:22:00 AM CAPITOL HEIGHTS MD Shipment has left seller facility and is in transit
W00T!
October 15th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Lighten up? I made a point that the calendar is sexist. To claim that making a SkepDude calendar makes it less sexist is a lie. I didn’t say or even imply that I was upset.
The Skepchick calendar is skepchicks accepting sexism. Enough said. If that’s how they want it, fine. But you’re the ones who need to “lighten up” when the truth is told.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I agree with Zygar, objectifying men doesn’t make the routine objectification of women less rampant. It only presents the illusion that such objectification is acceptable.
In essence, the Skepdude calendar, like the People’s Hottest Men, is like treating a stuffy nose by giving everyone a stuffy nose for a day.
That’s not to say I respect the BA, Skepchick, or Neil Degrasse Tyson any less. However, I do think it is not an ideal remedy to any sort of sexism, and would disagree to their (likely) protestations otherwise.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Woohoo!! It’s here! I heard a rumbling on my doorstep and there it was, a mini-box of death! I’m so excited to start reading it, I’ve cleared the rest of the day to veg out, by the pool, with a beer and Death from the Skies! Awesome
Cheers Phil,
Ian
October 15th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
My copy is supposed to arrive tomorrow. I may call in sick to work just to read it all day!
October 15th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
IT ARRIVED ALREADY! WOO HOO!!
October 15th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
“Meteor than she’s used to” had me in tears. So terrible.
I ordered my copy yesterday from Amazon so I should be getting it soon. Can’t wait~!
Cheers.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Is Botticelli’s “The Birth Of Venus” objectifying. What about Michelangelo’s “David”? It is just a calendar with some pretty pictures. Have you seen the picture of Rebecca for example? The worst thing about it is the shameless product placement.
I’m not saying that all photos of nekkid people is art that doesn’t involve objectification but, geeze, get a grip. It is only a calendar.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
My copy came today!!! It’s astronomically (har har) great so far (of course), and I hope the remainder contains just as much heavenly, deadly goodness.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:29 am
I’m sure Aunt Jemima is only a mascot.