On Astronomy Day, May 30, I’ll be in Kalamazoo, Michigan to give my Bad Astronomy talk at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. It’s free, but you have to get a ticket in advance or else they’ll make you drink Vernors until you explode.
This should be fun; I love giving this talk (asteroid impacts! Clips from bad movies!), and I’ll also be giving a brief talk about objects visible that night before we go out and do some star gazing (assuming it’s clear). Directions and other info are all on the site linked above.
I hope to see some BABloggees there!
May 27th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Please get someone to video this talk, and post it to YouTube!
May 27th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Enjoy, but it is Kalamazoo. It will not be clear. You will not be star gazing
May 27th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Hey, I live near K’zoo. Wish I could go, but I can’t make it. I second the call for it to be on YouTube. Also, feel free to swing through here again in the near future!
May 27th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I think I’m going to try to go. I only live like 2 hours from kalamazoo. woohoo!!!
May 27th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Then on to Timbuctoo?
J/P=?
May 27th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Sounds like a fun evening/night. Hope it goes well. Of course, International Astronomy Day was May 2. But I assume they are doing a local version of this.
May 27th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
This is the first time in three years that I am sad I moved out of Michigan.
Check out Bells brewery in k-zoo. The Two Hearted ale or the Oberon are simply divine.
May 27th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I want to cry now. I too live near K`zoo (being an Ypsi/A^2 guy), and can’t make it since I’ll be working that night.
Actually, I might say screw it and forgo the sleep, just to see this talk.
How long is the talk? Only ask, because I would not want to leave early, and would have to be back in A^2 at 10pm to work.
May 27th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Oh well… if some day you come to Brazil to a talk don´t forget to warn me!
May 27th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
wow, Two Michigan references in one post. Phil must have lived on the peninsulas.
May 27th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Kalamazoo? If it weren’t for that left turn at Albuquerque, you would’ve been in Pismo Beach!
May 27th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Kalamazoo? REALLY? I live in Kzoo; I’ll be there certainly.
May 27th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Maybe chattanooga next time.
May 27th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Will Phil Plait drink a Bell’s Beer?
May 27th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Yes, Bells. Their Hopslam is out of season but it’s also out of this world. Definitely an Evo beer.
May 27th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
p.s. Elliott Robert , Phil did his undergrad at U of M.
May 27th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I visited the Nature Center once, about 40 years ago on an elementary school field trip. The Center had a garden under a transparent dome about 16 meters across. My best friend & I were majorly into super heroes, so just between the two of us we pretended that it was Aquaman’s domed city of Atlantis.
May 27th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Sounds like fun! When’s the next time you’ll be speaking in the DC area?
May 27th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Thanks for the plug, Phil! We’re all very much looking forward to having you as our guest.
May 27th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Next up on Phil’s tour of funny place names is Walla Walla and Pago Pago and then he will clean up in Hygiene, Colorado, enjoy some Briny Breezes in Florida, get back to Normal in Illinois, drown in Quicksand, Kentucky, and have a Bath in Pennsylvania.
I could go on like this for a while…
May 27th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Please,pleeesa, PUHLEEZE come to Vancouber!!!! Please!
hale_bopp: don’t even start on D*ldo Newfoundland!
May 27th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
@Micheal L the same province has Conception Bay as well.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I doubt the BA will ever make to the east coast of Canada and if he does it probably be in Halifax which is too far away.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I’ll be there.
(I had inside information that you would be coming to Kzoo)
May 27th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I nearly had an aneurysm when I saw your name on the little flyer for astronomy day, last week. As a big fan and long-time Kazoo resident, I’m both delighted and confused as to why you’d come here of all places.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Wait, there’s *actually* a place called Kalamazoo? Next you’ll be telling me there’s a Timbuktu too! Apparently, we have here in New Zealand, a place called Waikikamukau (why-kick-a-moo-cow for all you who do not speak Te Reo).
May 27th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
awww, another one I’m going to miss!
When are you coming to Aus, Phil?
May 27th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
@Davidlpf…
That’s the place….!
Sorry everyone, but nothing beats D!ldo, Newfoundland, Canada!! I mean, come on! And yes, you can look it up, it’s a real place in Canada!
May 27th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I live in Jackson, about an hour away from Kalamazoo. As soon as I read this post, I sent the link to my buddy who is coming up for the weekend from Big rapids tomorrow. We really want to come. I sure as hell hope we can!
May 28th, 2009 at 12:54 am
“Kalamazoo Nature Center” – is that the Kalamazoo Zoo? Hmmm … we can push this one by suggesting that one of the sponsors is Isuzu: The Isuzu Kalamazoo Zoo.
@Michael L: Pfft. There’s this small village in Austria which claims to have the most stolen name sign; the village name begins with an ‘F’; I’m sure you can locate it with the help of google.
@Crux Australis: In Hawaii I saw a sign Waianuenue and I asked myself “Whynotanuenue?” I must admit I fell over laughing when a New Zealander was telling me about lake Tekapo (”take a poo”), not to mention the hotel “chicken times” (check-in) – dang, I forgot all the other things that had me laughing; I might have to return. That reminds me – New Zealand does have those monstrous pigeons the size of a duck, but I never did get a photo of one and people just don’t believe me when I tell them about the humongous pigeons.
May 28th, 2009 at 4:49 am
I’ll be there, most likely donning a Doctor Who shirt.
May 28th, 2009 at 6:02 am
Don’t forget to stop by Bell’s Brewery while you’re in Kalamazoo.
May 28th, 2009 at 9:20 am
I guess its official: I’m the only old fart that reads this blog, that’s old fart enough to get the reference to the headline.
People who live in Kzoo, not withstanding.
And another thing, you kids get off my lawn!
May 28th, 2009 at 9:34 am
@Buffalodavid
Oh, there’s a few of us around who once “Had a gal in Kalamazoo-zoo-zoo.”
May 28th, 2009 at 11:37 am
OMG i am so going, i live an hour south and i own both of his books, woohoo gonna get em signed, sweet
1. dhtroy Says:
Please get someone to video this talk, and post it to YouTube
i will bring my camcorder but to be safe will ask phil for his permission to post the vid on my youtube page
May 28th, 2009 at 11:58 am
The kalamazoo air museam (airzoo.org) might be worth your time, if you have some free time while you’re up there. Also, Bravo’s is one of my favorite restaurants…
I just might be able to make it to the talk… hope to see you then!
May 28th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
SkeptikSnarf (#35) writes:
“i live an hour south”
There’s more than corn in Indiana…
Those of use that grew up there will get that reference.
I also grew up an hour south of the ‘Zoo. Middlebury, IN to be exact. Hey neighbor.
May 28th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
One Eyed Jack, I’m originally from Goshen. I’m in Indianapolis nowadays.
SkeptikSnarf, I see you’re from Goshen, too, and now live way out in Tucumcari. Is the ancient Odeon Theater still in business there?
May 28th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Oh man, I’m only 60 miles away!
May 29th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Oh, no! Redskins!
June 1st, 2009 at 4:03 pm
MadScientist: I love those huge pigeons (Kereru)! They make a cool noise when they fly overhead. Fortunately, one has never flown over my head at the wrong time!
June 11th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I’ve put up some photos of Phil’s talk in Kalamazoo…
http://tinyurl.com/PhilPlait