Comments on: Wordhole http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/ 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 08:35:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: matt http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155664 matt Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:05:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155664 Black hole. It sucks. Black hole.
It sucks.

]]> By: Tom K http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155442 Tom K Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:51:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155442 I can't wait to get home and try it on some porn. I can’t wait to get home and try it on some porn.

]]> By: Raphael http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155423 Raphael Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:42:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155423 I wordled the BA: http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/535153/Bad_Astronomy_Blog_12_Feb_2009 ;-) I wordled the BA: http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/535153/Bad_Astronomy_Blog_12_Feb_2009 ;-)

]]> By: Jack Hagerty http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155402 Jack Hagerty Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:47:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155402 Interesting. I took the "Day the Earth Stood Still" chapter from "The Saucer Fleet" as a test case: http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/534869/Saucer_Fleet_%22Day_the_Earth_Stood_Still%22_chapter "Klaatu" comes out on top and "Gort" way up there, but no "Barada" or "Nikto." - Jack Interesting. I took the “Day the Earth Stood Still” chapter from “The Saucer Fleet” as a test case:

http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/534869/Saucer_Fleet_%22Day_the_Earth_Stood_Still%22_chapter

“Klaatu” comes out on top and “Gort” way up there, but no “Barada” or “Nikto.”

- Jack

]]> By: Stuart Greig http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155332 Stuart Greig Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:01:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155332 Aaaarrrggghhhhh! I just wasted an hour of my life, its just too cool! Put in my resume which has now prompted me to start re-writing it. Aaaarrrggghhhhh! I just wasted an hour of my life, its just too cool!

Put in my resume which has now prompted me to start re-writing it.

]]> By: kuhnigget http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155321 kuhnigget Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:44:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155321 I did one for the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" that turned out pretty cool. I like the way you can mix up the words and try again if the first result isn't especially pleasing. I did one for the Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane” that turned out pretty cool.

I like the way you can mix up the words and try again if the first result isn’t especially pleasing.

]]> By: Martin Moran http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155318 Martin Moran Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:01:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155318 Thanks Phil! I have done a couple of Theology pastes with some interesting results. Think I’m going to mix them in with my Astronomy pictures. Thanks Phil! I have done a couple of Theology pastes with some interesting results. Think I’m going to mix them in with my Astronomy pictures.

]]> By: Shawn S. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155311 Shawn S. Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:12:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155311 Oh no, the link comments got removed... too bad. :( And to think I did a scientology one to share! Oh no, the link comments got removed… too bad. :(

And to think I did a scientology one to share!

]]> By: Mena http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155308 Mena Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:03:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155308 My Declaration of Independence one still hasn't been approved (still hating that "no links allowed" thing) but how about Chaucer? I'm testing to see if my comment gets held back because I linked to a web site with the website box. My Declaration of Independence one still hasn’t been approved (still hating that “no links allowed” thing) but how about Chaucer? I’m testing to see if my comment gets held back because I linked to a web site with the website box.

]]> By: Shawn Shelton http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155305 Shawn Shelton Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:57:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155305 Oops, he had a second page...(!) http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/533001/Time_Cube_2 Looks awesome... Oops, he had a second page…(!)

http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/533001/Time_Cube_2

Looks awesome…

]]> By: Shawn Shelton http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155303 Shawn Shelton Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:55:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155303 LORD is enormous in Deuteronomy. Looks kind of neat, though. I entered a story from Clark Ashton Smith, as well as lines from his biography (plus a deliberate amount of his actual name) to get a neat one: http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/532895/Clark_Ashton_Smith And pure genius... TIME CUBE: http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/532991/Time_Cube LORD is enormous in Deuteronomy. Looks kind of neat, though.

I entered a story from Clark Ashton Smith, as well as lines from his biography (plus a deliberate amount of his actual name) to get a neat one:
http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/532895/Clark_Ashton_Smith

And pure genius… TIME CUBE:
http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/532991/Time_Cube

]]> By: Davidlpf http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155297 Davidlpf Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:26:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155297 You wrote a book? You wrote a book?

]]> By: kuhnigget http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155283 kuhnigget Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:38:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155283 @ Leon: "Abomination" seems a dominant theme. Go figure. @ Leon:

“Abomination” seems a dominant theme. Go figure.

]]> By: kuhnigget http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155282 kuhnigget Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:35:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155282 @ Cheyenne and Todd: Pffft! <i>I</i> measure everything in British Thermal Units. <i>"Shecks a mighty, Hoss, that's some serious BTUs ya got there."</i> @ Cheyenne and Todd:

Pffft! I measure everything in British Thermal Units.

“Shecks a mighty, Hoss, that’s some serious BTUs ya got there.”

]]> By: Leon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155279 Leon Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:25:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155279 Hey, that's neat! I wonder what would happen if I punched in Leviticus... Hey, that’s neat! I wonder what would happen if I punched in Leviticus…

]]> By: drksky http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155276 drksky Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:15:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155276 "The metric system is the tool of the devil! My car get 40 rods to the hogshead, and that's the way I likes it!" Wish I could remember the episode... “The metric system is the tool of the devil! My car get 40 rods to the hogshead, and that’s the way I likes it!”

Wish I could remember the episode…

]]> By: Cheyenne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155273 Cheyenne Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:01:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155273 @Todd- Hmmmm, maybe you do have a point. Well, in that case I submit that we should change to the Furlong/Firkin/Fortnight (FFF) system. Abe Simpson uses it - need I say more? Speed of light- 1.803 terafurlongs per fortnight (Astronomy website - thought folks might like that one) @Todd-

Hmmmm, maybe you do have a point. Well, in that case I submit that we should change to the Furlong/Firkin/Fortnight (FFF) system. Abe Simpson uses it – need I say more?

Speed of light- 1.803 terafurlongs per fortnight (Astronomy website – thought folks might like that one)

]]> By: Todd W. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155265 Todd W. Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:43:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155265 @Cheyenne We're not lazy. As evidence, I submit that we use a system that requires much more work. It's the rest of the world that's lazy. @Cheyenne

We’re not lazy. As evidence, I submit that we use a system that requires much more work. It’s the rest of the world that’s lazy.

]]> By: DrNo http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155262 DrNo Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:36:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155262 Way cool I put my syphilis lecture handouts in and it looks great I apparently also use the word "may" alot thanks BA Way cool
I put my syphilis lecture handouts in and it looks great
I apparently also use the word “may” alot
thanks BA

]]> By: Cheyenne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155259 Cheyenne Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:24:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155259 Speaking of metric - anybody know what Burma, Liberia, and the USA all have in common? Click my name if you want to cheat. Ugh, seriously, are we that lazy and incompetent that we can't even switch over to a system that actually makes sense?! Speaking of metric – anybody know what Burma, Liberia, and the USA all have in common? Click my name if you want to cheat.

Ugh, seriously, are we that lazy and incompetent that we can’t even switch over to a system that actually makes sense?!

]]> By: Mena http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155258 Mena Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:16:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155258 This was fun. I did a couple, which are on my blog (link above I guess, I have never used the "Website" box) and decided to try the Declaration of Independence. I actually like the way it turned out! http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/532152/Declaration_of_Independence This was fun. I did a couple, which are on my blog (link above I guess, I have never used the “Website” box) and decided to try the Declaration of Independence. I actually like the way it turned out!
http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/532152/Declaration_of_Independence

]]> By: ioresult http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155257 ioresult Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:11:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155257 Better yet: can you release a special edition all in metric? Please? Pretty please? Better yet: can you release a special edition all in metric? Please? Pretty please?

]]> By: ioresult http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155256 ioresult Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:10:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155256 I notice the word "miles" big enough. And I can't find the word "kilometer". And I wanted to buy your book. Tell me you give the metric equivalents in your book, please! I notice the word “miles” big enough. And I can’t find the word “kilometer”. And I wanted to buy your book. Tell me you give the metric equivalents in your book, please!

]]> By: Chip http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155255 Chip Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:02:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155255 Its also fun to place a classical music review text and look at the Wordle display as an overall picture suggesting a positive or negative gist inthe review. Seems to work. (So much for the music critic's eloquent use of rhetoric.) ;) Its also fun to place a classical music review text and look at the Wordle display as an overall picture suggesting a positive or negative gist inthe review. Seems to work. (So much for the music critic’s eloquent use of rhetoric.) ;)

]]> By: zer0 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/comment-page-1/#comment-155253 zer0 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:52:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/11/wordhole/#comment-155253 Like omg, I didn't like know you were like so cool Phil. It's like we share like a bond or something. Like is sooooooooooooooo overused by English speakers today. Like omg, I didn’t like know you were like so cool Phil. It’s like we share like a bond or something.

Like is sooooooooooooooo overused by English speakers today.

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